Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Single and combined acute and subchronic toxic effects of microplastics and copper in zebrafish (Danio rerio) early life stages

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos and larvae to microplastics, copper, and their combinations to assess individual and combined toxic effects. They found that microplastics alone caused limited harm, but when combined with copper, the mixture produced altered biochemical responses and changes in gene expression. The study suggests that microplastics can modify the toxicity of heavy metals in aquatic organisms during early development.

2021 Chemosphere 96 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined effects of microplastics and copper on oxidative responses in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed zebrafish (Danio rerio) to microplastics (10 µg/L) and copper (45 µg/L) individually and in combination, finding that fish exposed to both stressors simultaneously exhibited higher oxidative stress across multiple body organs than those exposed to either contaminant alone.

2025 JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY INDIA
Article Tier 2

Toxicological effects induced on early life stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio) after an acute exposure to microplastics alone or co-exposed with copper

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to microplastics alone and combined with copper to assess their joint toxicity during early development. They found that copper, both alone and combined with microplastics, reduced survival, increased oxidative stress, inhibited a key nervous system enzyme, and disrupted avoidance and social behaviors. The study suggests that microplastics may modulate copper toxicity in some biological endpoints, highlighting the importance of studying combined pollutant exposures during vulnerable developmental stages.

2020 Chemosphere 138 citations
Article Tier 2

The impact of microplastics and copper on sex ratio and oxidative stress: analysis in zebrafish intestine, gonad and brain

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to copper, polyethylene, and polystyrene microplastics individually and in combination, finding that copper caused high mortality, PE alone induced a feminization trend, and co-exposure amplified adverse effects on sex differentiation and antioxidant enzyme activity.

2025 Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT)
Article Tier 2

Copper and Microplastic Exposure Affects the Gill Gene Expression of Common Carp During Saltwater Challenge

This study examined how combined copper and microplastic exposure affects gill gene expression in common carp, finding synergistic stress responses including upregulation of genes involved in oxidative stress defense and immune function.

2024 Science Journal of University of Zakho 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and copper effects on the neotropical teleost Prochilodus lineatus: Is there any interaction?

Researchers exposed the neotropical fish Prochilodus lineatus to polyethylene microplastics and copper separately and together, finding that microplastics alone caused oxidative stress and genotoxic effects, while combined exposure with copper did not consistently amplify harm compared to either stressor alone.

2020 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A Molecular & Integrative Physiology 99 citations
Article Tier 2

Single and Combined Effects of Microplastics and Cadmium on the Cadmium Accumulation and Biochemical and Immunity of Channa argus

Researchers investigated the single and combined effects of microplastics and cadmium on juvenile snakehead fish, finding that co-exposure caused greater tissue damage, oxidative stress, and immune disruption than either pollutant alone.

2021 Biological Trace Element Research 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) harness copper presence and promote impairments in early zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae: Developmental, biochemical, transcriptomic approaches and nontargeted metabolomics approaches

This zebrafish study found that polystyrene microplastics combined with copper produced worse toxic effects than either pollutant alone, causing developmental problems, oxidative stress, immune disruption, and nerve damage in larvae. The combination also disrupted the fish's metabolism in ways that neither pollutant caused independently. This is concerning because microplastics readily absorb heavy metals like copper in the environment, meaning organisms are often exposed to both together.

2025 Environmental Research 7 citations
Article Tier 2

The Combined Effect of Copper Nanoparticles and Microplastics on Transcripts Involved in Oxidative Stress Pathway in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss) Hepatocytes

Primary rainbow trout hepatocytes were exposed to copper nanoparticles, microplastics, and their combination for 48 hours, finding that both dissolved copper and copper nanoparticles upregulated antioxidant enzyme transcripts while microplastics alone had minimal effect. Co-exposure to nanoparticles and microplastics did not significantly alter the oxidative stress response beyond nanoparticle effects alone.

2023 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact and Molecular Mechanism of Microplastics on Zebrafish in the Presence and Absence of Copper Nanoparticles

Polystyrene microplastics of three sizes combined with copper nanoparticles caused additive or synergistic toxicity in zebrafish, disrupting oxidative stress responses, gene expression, and early development, with 0.07-micrometer particles producing the most severe effects.

2021 Frontiers in Marine Science 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic Effect of Combined Exposure of Microplastics and Copper on Goldfish (Carassius auratus): Insight from Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, Apoptosis and Autophagy in Hepatopancreas and Intestine

Researchers found that combined exposure to microplastics and copper in goldfish significantly enhanced copper accumulation and tissue damage in the hepatopancreas and intestine, triggering oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and autophagy beyond the effects of either pollutant alone.

2022 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined effects of polystyrene microplastics and copper on antioxidant capacity, immune response and intestinal microbiota of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Researchers examined the combined effects of polystyrene microplastics and copper on Nile tilapia and found that co-exposure increased copper accumulation in the liver and caused tissue damage in multiple organs. High concentrations of both contaminants together triggered oxidative stress, inflammation, and shifts in intestinal microbial communities. The study suggests that microplastics can worsen the toxic effects of heavy metals on freshwater fish.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 67 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined effects of microplastics and copper on antioxidant capacity, gut microbiome, and metabolomics of Pseudorasbora parva

Researchers studied the combined effects of microplastics and copper on the freshwater fish Pseudorasbora parva, examining antioxidant capacity, gut microbiota, and metabolic responses. They found that the presence of microplastics alongside copper actually reduced copper accumulation in tissues and lessened oxidative damage compared to copper exposure alone. The study suggests that while microplastics can alter the toxicity profile of metals in fish, the interactions are complex and involve metabolic adjustments that balance cellular repair and energy expenditure.

2025 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Biochemical impacts of PET microplastics and cadmium on Danio rerio under environmental conditions

This study examined the combined biochemical effects of PET microplastics and cadmium on zebrafish under environmentally relevant exposures, finding that co-exposure altered oxidative stress biomarkers, liver enzyme activity, and immune responses in ways that differed from single-contaminant exposures.

2025
Article Tier 2

Long-term effects of individual and combined exposure to microplastics and copper in zebrafish hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis – A multi-biomarker evaluation

This study exposed zebrafish to microplastics, copper, and both combined for 30 days and examined effects on their reproductive system. The combination of microplastics and copper caused greater hormonal disruption and oxidative stress than either pollutant alone, affecting genes that control reproduction in both male and female fish. These findings suggest that microplastics interacting with metal pollution in waterways could compound reproductive harm in aquatic organisms and potentially in humans who consume contaminated fish.

2025 Journal of Environmental Management 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Hepatic transcriptomic and histopathological responses of common carp, Cyprinus carpio, to copper and microplastic exposure

Researchers investigated how PVC microplastics interact with copper exposure in common carp over 14 days. They found that the microplastic particles acted as a vector for copper, increasing its accumulation in the liver and worsening tissue damage beyond what either pollutant caused alone. The study suggests that microplastics can amplify the toxic effects of heavy metals in freshwater fish.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 49 citations
Article Tier 2

Histopathological damage and stress‐ and immune‐related genes' expression in the intestine of common carp, Cyprinus carpio exposed to copper and polyvinyl chloride microparticle

Researchers examined the combined effects of copper and PVC microplastics on common carp intestines, finding that co-exposure caused greater histopathological damage and altered stress- and immune-related gene expression compared to either contaminant alone.

2021 Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A Ecological and Integrative Physiology 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Impacts of Microplastics, Cadmium, and Their Mixtures on Biochemical Biomarkers in the Freshwater Bivalve Corbicula fluminea (Bivalvia, Corbiculidea)

This study evaluated the combined impacts of microplastics and cadmium on biochemical biomarkers in a freshwater organism, finding that co-exposure caused greater oxidative stress and cellular damage than either contaminant alone. Microplastics appear to enhance cadmium bioavailability and toxicity.

2024 Diversity 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics increase mercury bioconcentration in gills and bioaccumulation in the liver, and cause oxidative stress and damage in Dicentrarchus labrax juveniles

Researchers exposed juvenile European sea bass to mercury, microplastics, and their mixture for 96 hours and found that microplastics increased mercury bioconcentration in gills and bioaccumulation in the liver. The combination of microplastics and mercury also caused greater oxidative stress and lipid damage than either contaminant alone, suggesting microplastics may amplify the toxicity of co-occurring pollutants.

2018 Scientific Reports 281 citations
Article Tier 2

Single and combined effects of microplastics and cadmium on juvenile grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus)

Researchers found that combined exposure to polystyrene microplastics and cadmium in juvenile grass carp caused greater physiological stress than either pollutant alone, with microplastics enhancing cadmium accumulation and intensifying oxidative stress and immune responses.

2022 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Oxidative stress, apoptosis and serotonergic system changes in zebrafish (Danio rerio) gills after long-term exposure to microplastics and copper

Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to microplastics and copper for 30 days and examined the effects on their gill tissue. They found that the combination caused greater oxidative stress, increased cell death, and disrupted the serotonin signaling system in gills more than either pollutant alone. The study demonstrates that microplastics can amplify the toxic effects of heavy metals on fish respiratory organs.

2022 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology 90 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined toxic effects of cadmium and environmental microplastics in Aphanius fasciatus (Pisces, Cyprinodontidae)

Researchers found that combined exposure to cadmium and microplastics in killifish caused oxidative stress and spinal deformities, though the two pollutants did not show clear synergistic interaction, likely because microplastics reduced cadmium bioavailability.

2023 Marine Environmental Research 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of Detoxification‐Related Gene Expression, Oxidative Stress Biomarkers, and Blood Biochemical Parameters in Common Carp ( Cyprinus carpio ) Co‐Exposed to Polyethylene Microplastics and Deltamethrin

Researchers investigated whether polyethylene microplastics worsen the toxic effects of the insecticide deltamethrin in juvenile common carp over a 30-day exposure. The study found that co-exposure to microplastics and deltamethrin affected detoxification-related gene expression, oxidative stress biomarkers, and blood biochemistry, suggesting that microplastics can modify the bioavailability and toxicity of co-occurring pesticides in fish.

2026 Journal of Applied Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Interactions effects of nano-microplastics and heavy metals in hybrid snakehead (Channa maculata ♀ × Channa argus ♂)

Researchers investigated how nano-sized microplastics (80 nm) interact with cadmium in hybrid snakehead fish. The study found that nano-microplastics caused gill damage, liver oxidative stress, and inflammation-related gene suppression, with effects worsening over time. Evidence indicates that nano-microplastics facilitate the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in fish tissues.

2022 Fish & Shellfish Immunology 41 citations