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

Mitochondrial dysfunction and lipometabolic disturbance induced by the co-effect of polystyrene nanoplastics and copper impede early life stage development of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers found that co-exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics and copper at environmentally relevant concentrations caused mitochondrial dysfunction and lipid metabolism disruption in zebrafish embryos, impairing early development and survival more severely than either contaminant alone.

2022 Environmental Science Nano 7 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 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

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

Polystyrene microplastics and nanoplastics induce neurotoxicity in zebrafish via oxidative stress and neurotransmitter disruption

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics and found that both particle sizes caused neurodevelopmental toxicity, with nanoplastics being more potent. The plastic particles induced oxidative stress in the brain and disrupted neurotransmitter levels critical for normal neural development. The study suggests that microplastic and nanoplastic contamination in aquatic environments may pose significant risks to the neurological development of fish.

2025 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology 1 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 polystyrene microplastics and natural organic matter on the accumulation and toxicity of copper in zebrafish

Researchers investigated the combined effects of polystyrene microplastics and natural organic matter on copper accumulation and toxicity in zebrafish. They found that microplastics increased copper accumulation in the liver and gut, and that natural organic matter further amplified this effect in a size-dependent manner. The study suggests that microplastics in natural waters can interact with dissolved organic matter and metals to create more harmful exposure conditions for aquatic organisms.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 330 citations
Article Tier 2

Co-exposure of polystyrene nanoplastics and copper induces development toxicity and intestinal mitochondrial dysfunction in vivo and in vitro

When nanoplastics and copper were combined, they caused significantly worse intestinal damage in zebrafish and human gut cells than either pollutant alone. The nanoplastics carried extra copper into the digestive tract, triggering inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, and harmful shifts in gut bacteria -- showing how microplastics can act as vehicles that amplify heavy metal toxicity in the gut.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics at predicted environmental concentrations enhance the toxicity of copper on Caenorhabditis elegans

Even at low concentrations found in the environment, polystyrene nanoplastics significantly increased copper toxicity in roundworms by boosting oxidative stress and triggering stress-response genes. The nanoplastics alone did not cause obvious harm, but when combined with copper, the damage was much worse than copper alone. This is concerning because in real-world soil and water, nanoplastics and heavy metals often occur together, potentially creating greater health risks than either pollutant individually.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 12 citations
Article Tier 2

The Effects of Single and Combined Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics and Copper on the Behavior of Adult Zebrafish

Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoplastics and copper ions affected zebrafish behavior when the fish were exposed to both pollutants simultaneously. The combination was more toxic than either pollutant alone, reducing the concentration needed to kill fish by up to 32%. Since nanoplastics and heavy metals commonly occur together in polluted water, their combined effects on aquatic life could increase the risks associated with consuming contaminated fish.

2025 Water 6 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

Toxicity of microplastics and copper, alone or combined, in blackspot seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo) larvae

Researchers examined the toxicity of microplastics and copper, alone and combined, on blackspot seabream larvae, finding that microplastic-copper mixtures can alter biochemical biomarkers and gene expression related to oxidative stress and immune response in developing fish.

2022 Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of microplastics on the accumulation and chronic toxic effects of cadmium in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics combined with cadmium for three weeks and found that the presence of microplastics significantly increased cadmium accumulation in the liver, gut, and gills. The combined exposure caused greater oxidative damage, tissue inflammation, and disruption of protective gene activity than either pollutant alone. The study demonstrates that microplastics can enhance the toxicity of heavy metals in fish by acting as carriers that increase the body's uptake of harmful substances.

2018 Chemosphere 461 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicological Mechanism of the Size–Form Synergy of Nano-Copper Oxide in Danio rerio

This study compared the toxicity of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) of different sizes and morphologies in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Smaller CuO-NPs caused greater oxidative stress and developmental toxicity, demonstrating that particle size and form are key determinants of nanotoxicity in aquatic organisms.

2025 Biology
Article Tier 2

Microplastics- and copper-induced changes in neurogenesis and DNA methyltransferases in the early life stages of zebrafish

Researchers found that exposure to microplastics and copper, alone or combined, disrupted neurogenesis and DNA methylation in zebrafish embryos, downregulating genes involved in neuronal development and suggesting epigenetic mechanisms underlying neurotoxicity.

2022 Chemico-Biological Interactions 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics enhance the toxicological effects of DDE in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics enhanced the toxicity of the pesticide metabolite DDE in zebrafish larvae, with co-exposure causing greater developmental abnormalities and oxidative stress than either pollutant alone.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics mediated the toxicity of silver nanoparticles in zebrafish embryos

Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoplastics interact with silver nanoparticles and affect zebrafish embryo development. They found that nanoplastics can act as carriers for silver nanoparticles in water, and the combination altered patterns of oxidative stress, immune response, and metabolic function compared to either pollutant alone. The study highlights how nanoplastics may change the way other environmental contaminants affect aquatic organisms.

2023 Frontiers in Marine Science 19 citations
Article Tier 2

The Role of Synthetic Polymers in the Aquatic Environment and Its Implications in Danio Rerio as a Model Organism

Exposing zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics combined with silver nanoparticles caused significantly more oxidative damage, tissue injury in gills and intestines, and higher mortality than either contaminant alone. The study demonstrates that microplastics can act as carriers that enhance the toxicity of co-pollutants like silver nanoparticles, a combination effect that is highly relevant to understanding real-world aquatic contamination where multiple pollutants co-occur.

2023 Apple Academic Press eBooks
Article Tier 2

Comparison of the combined toxicity of polystyrene microplastics and different concentrations of cadmium in zebrafish

Researchers studied the combined toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics and cadmium at different concentrations in zebrafish over a 10-day exposure period. The study found that microplastics could either amplify or reduce cadmium toxicity depending on the metal concentration, affecting survival, growth, and antioxidant responses in complex ways.

2022 Aquatic Toxicology 58 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics cause developmental abnormalities, oxidative damage and immune toxicity in early zebrafish development

Zebrafish embryos exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics showed dose-dependent developmental problems including delayed hatching, reduced survival, smaller body size, and the nanoplastics accumulated in critical organs like the eyes, heart, liver, and brain. The particles triggered oxidative stress that damaged cells and activated inflammatory immune responses, demonstrating how nanoplastic contamination in water can cause widespread harm to developing organisms.

2025 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology 11 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

Size-dependent sensitization of copper toxicity by polystyrene nanoplastics revealed by toxicokinetic–toxicodynamic modeling

Researchers used toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic modeling in zebrafish to show that smaller polystyrene nanoplastics (50 nm vs. 300 nm) not only carry more copper into the body but also sensitize fish to lower internal copper concentrations, amplifying metal toxicity through oxidative stress and intestinal barrier damage beyond what particle uptake alone would predict.

2026 Journal of Hazardous Materials