Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Use of DNA adduct and histopathological defects as indications for bio-persistence potency of zinc oxide nanoparticles in gastropod, Monacha cartusiana (Mǜller) after short-term exposure

Researchers assessed the bio-persistence and adverse effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles in the gastropod Monacha cartusiana after short-term exposure, using DNA adduct formation and histopathological defects as biomarkers to characterize cytotoxic and genomic damage from metallic nanoparticle exposure.

2022 Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic Effect of UV-Pre-Irradiated TiO2 Nanoparticles on the Sand Dollar Scaphechinus mirabilis Sperm

Researchers studied how UV irradiation changes the toxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles to sand dollar sperm. The study found that UV pre-treatment altered the properties of the nanoparticles and increased their toxic effects on marine invertebrate reproduction, highlighting how environmental weathering can change the behavior of nanoparticles released into ocean environments.

2026 Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
Article Tier 2

Genotoxicity of Polystyrene (PS) Microspheres in Short-Term Exposure to Gametes of the Sand Dollar Scaphechinus mirabilis (Agassiz, 1864) (Echinodermata, Echinoidea)

Short-term exposure of sand dollar gametes to polystyrene microspheres caused significant DNA damage and increased micronucleus frequency in fertilized eggs, suggesting that even brief microplastic contact during reproduction can introduce genotoxic risk in echinoderm populations.

2021 Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of Pristine and Photoaging Polystyrene Microspheres on Sperm Quality and DNA Integrity of the Sand Dollars Scaphechinus mirabilis

Researchers exposed sand dollar (Scaphechinus mirabilis) sperm to pristine and UV-photoaged polystyrene microspheres, finding that photoaged particles caused significantly greater reductions in sperm motility and increased DNA damage than pristine particles.

2025 Journal of Xenobiotics
Article Tier 2

Determination of Oxidative Stress Responses Caused by Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle on Gammarus Pulex

Gammarus pulex, a freshwater invertebrate indicator species, was exposed to zinc oxide nanoparticles at 0, 10, 20, and 40 ppm for 24 and 96 hours to assess oxidative stress responses. The study measured antioxidant enzyme activities and related biomarkers, finding concentration- and time-dependent oxidative stress effects.

2024 Research Square (Research Square)
Article Tier 2

Effects of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle Exposure on Human Glial Cells and Zebrafish Embryos

Researchers investigated the toxicity of zinc oxide nanoparticles on human brain glial cells and zebrafish embryos, finding that both were harmed at relatively low concentrations. The nanoparticles reduced cell viability in the glial cells and caused developmental abnormalities in the zebrafish embryos. The study suggests that the dissolved zinc ions released from these widely used nanoparticles play a significant role in their toxic effects on the nervous system.

2023 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Acute exposure to high concentrations of polystyrene nanoparticles induces genotoxicity in Daphnia pulex

Researchers exposed the freshwater organism Daphnia pulex to high concentrations of polystyrene nanoparticles and assessed genotoxic effects using the comet assay alongside immobilization and reproduction tests. They found that acute exposure induced significant DNA damage in the organisms. The study suggests that nanoplastics can cause genetic-level harm in freshwater species, an area that remains understudied.

2026 Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Article Tier 2

Combined toxic effects of environmental predominant microplastics and ZnO nanoparticles in freshwater snail Pomaceae paludosa

Researchers assessed the toxic effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles and polypropylene microplastics, both individually and combined, on the freshwater snail Pomeacea paludosa over 28 days. The study found that combined exposure caused more severe oxidative stress, disrupted antioxidant and digestive enzyme activity, and led to tissue damage and DNA damage compared to individual pollutant exposure. Evidence indicates that microplastics interacting with nanoparticles can amplify toxic effects in freshwater organisms.

2023 Environmental Pollution 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Ecological Risks of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles for Early Life Stages of Obscure Puffer (Takifugu obscurus)

This study tested the toxic effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles on the early life stages of the obscure puffer fish, finding reduced hatching rates, deformities in larvae, and significant mortality at higher concentrations. While focused on zinc oxide rather than microplastics, the research is relevant because zinc oxide nanoparticles from sunscreen are commonly found alongside microplastics in aquatic environments. The combined presence of multiple nanoparticle pollutants may compound the risks to aquatic ecosystems and the fish people eat.

2024 Toxics 17 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Micro (Nano)plastics Vitiation of Genetic Material: Systematic Review of Genotoxic Biomarkers and Model Bioindicators.

This systematic review found that micro- and nanoplastics can induce DNA damage through multiple mechanisms including oxidative stress, inflammatory cell activation, and down-regulation of apoptotic genes. Both somatic and germ-line cells are susceptible, with the comet assay being the most commonly used biomarker, though further studies are needed to definitively classify these particles as genotoxins or carcinogens.

2026 Journal of applied toxicology : JAT
Article Tier 2

Particles rather than released Zn2+ from ZnO nanoparticles aggravate microplastics toxicity in early stages of exposed zebrafish and their unexposed offspring

Researchers investigated the combined effects of polystyrene microplastics and zinc oxide nanoparticles on zebrafish embryos and their unexposed offspring. They found that ZnO particles adhered to microplastic surfaces and amplified toxic effects including growth inhibition, oxidative stress, and hormonal disruption, with impacts carrying over to the next generation. Interestingly, dissolved zinc ions actually reversed some microplastic toxicity, suggesting that it is the physical particles rather than the released zinc that drive the increased harm.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 75 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of distribution, chemical speciation, and toxic effects of CuO and ZnO nanoparticles in Daphnia magna and Danio rerio

Copper oxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles were toxic to both water fleas (Daphnia magna) and zebrafish at low concentrations, accumulating in tissues and causing oxidative damage. These nanoparticles are used in plastics as stabilizers and antimicrobials, making their aquatic toxicity relevant to assessing risks from plastic-derived nanoparticle release.

2021
Article Tier 2

Protective effects of Vitamin E against Zinc Oxide nanoparticles-induced histotoxicity of liver and testicular tissue, genotoxicity and biomarker stress in male albino rats

This rat study examined whether vitamin E could protect against liver and testicular damage caused by zinc oxide nanoparticles at doses of 50 and 200 mg/kg. Vitamin E at 100 mg/kg provided significant protection against ZnO nanoparticle-induced tissue damage, genotoxicity, and oxidative stress markers.

2024 Research Square (Research Square) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Salinity Moderated the Toxicity of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) towards the Early Development of Takifugu obscurus

Researchers found that salinity modulates the toxicity of zinc oxide nanoparticles to the early development of obscure pufferfish, with varying salt concentrations altering nanoparticle behavior and biological effects during this anadromous species' migration between fresh and saltwater.

2023 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Single and Combined Toxicity Effects of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Uptake and Accumulation in Marine Microalgae, Toxicity Mechanisms, and Their Fate in the Marine Environment

This review examined the toxicity of zinc oxide nanoparticles to marine microalgae, which form the base of the aquatic food chain. Researchers found that toxicity mechanisms include the release of zinc ions, direct interaction with algae cells, and generation of reactive oxygen species, and the study highlights the need for more research on combined pollutant exposures that better reflect real-world conditions.

2022 Water 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Leachate from Weathered Face Masks Increases DNA Damage to Sperm of Sand Dollars Scaphechinus mirabilis

Researchers tested how chemical leachate from weathered disposable face masks affects the reproductive cells of sand dollar sea urchins. They found that leachate from masks exposed to environmental weathering for 200 days caused significantly more DNA damage to sperm than leachate from new masks. The study suggests that as pandemic-era face mask waste breaks down in coastal environments, it may release increasingly harmful chemicals that threaten marine reproductive health.

2025 Toxics 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Cytotoxicity of Nanoparticles Used in Cosmetic Industries: An In-depth Insight

This review examined the cytotoxicity of nanoparticles used in cosmetic sunscreens, including titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, finding that while these particles provide effective UV protection, their nanoscale form raises concerns about skin penetration and potential cellular toxicity.

2022 Evergreen 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Photodegradation of Microplastics by ZnO Nanoparticles with Resulting Cellular and Subcellular Responses

Researchers extracted both zinc oxide nanoparticles and microplastics from a commercial sunscreen and found that the zinc oxide accelerated the breakdown of microplastics under simulated sunlight. However, the degradation products proved toxic to human skin cells at certain concentrations, causing oxidative stress and DNA damage. This suggests that while sunscreen ingredients may break down microplastics, the resulting fragments could pose their own health risks.

2023 Environmental Science & Technology 52 citations
Article Tier 2

The response of the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis (Lamarck, 1819) exposed to copper-doped zinc nanoparticles

This study is not about microplastics; it examines how copper-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles affect the physiology and biochemistry of Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) used as marine pollution bioindicators.

2023 Research Square (Research Square)
Article Tier 2

Size-dependent toxicity of nano- and microplastics with zinc oxide nanoparticles in the marine rotifer Brachionus koreanus

Researchers studied the combined toxic effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles with nano- and microplastics on marine rotifers. They found that the presence of plastic particles increased the toxicity of zinc oxide, with nanoplastics causing more harm than microplastics, and the combined exposure reduced reproduction and population growth. The study demonstrates that microplastics can amplify the harmful effects of other environmental contaminants on small marine organisms.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Effectiveness of N-Acetylcysteine on Zinc oxide Nanoparticles-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Adult Albino Rats

Researchers exposed adult albino rats to zinc oxide nanoparticles orally and investigated whether N-acetylcysteine — a free radical scavenger — could protect against ZnO nanoparticle-induced cardiotoxicity, measuring oxidative stress markers, histopathological changes, and cardiac enzyme levels to evaluate the mechanistic basis and protective efficacy of NAC treatment.

2022 Ain Shams Journal of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Reproductive cytotoxic and genotoxic impact of polystyrene microplastic on Paracentrotus lividus spermatozoa

Researchers exposed sea urchin sperm to polystyrene microplastics and found that the particles reduced sperm viability and movement, caused DNA damage through oxidative stress, and physically stuck to sperm cells, clumping them together. These effects significantly impaired the sperm's ability to fertilize eggs. While this study focused on sea urchins, the reproductive toxicity of microplastics raises broader concerns about how plastic pollution in the environment may threaten fertility across many species, including potentially humans.

2024 Current Research in Toxicology 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Genotoxic evaluation of polystyrene microplastic

Researchers evaluated the genotoxic effects of 1 µm polystyrene microplastics on Daphnia magna and Neocaridina davidi, calculating an LC50 of 808.97 µg/mL for acute toxicity and demonstrating increased DNA damage via Comet assay (elevated tail length, intensity, and moment) in shrimp exposed to microplastics. The findings indicate that polystyrene microplastics pose genotoxic risks to freshwater invertebrates.

2018 Sakarya University Journal of Science 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanopolystyrene beads affect motility and reproductive success of oyster spermatozoa (Crassostrea gigas)

Polystyrene nanoplastics with positively charged surfaces caused dramatic reductions in oyster sperm motility and fertilization success at relatively low concentrations, while negatively charged particles only affected motility at higher doses. The study raises concerns about how nanoplastic surface chemistry affects reproductive success in commercially important marine species.

2020 Nanotoxicology 45 citations