Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics enhance the intestinal damage and genotoxicity of sulfamethoxazole to medaka juveniles (Oryzias melastigma) in coastal environment

Scientists exposed young medaka fish to the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole and polystyrene nanoplastics, both individually and together, to study their combined effects on intestinal health. They found that co-exposure caused more severe gut damage than either pollutant alone, disrupting the gut microbiome and triggering changes in gene expression related to immune defense and DNA repair. The study suggests that nanoplastics may amplify the harmful effects of antibiotics on fish in coastal environments.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics and tetracycline induced intestinal damage, intestinal microbiota dysbiosis, and antibiotic resistome: metagenomic analysis in young mice

Young mice exposed to both polystyrene microplastics and the antibiotic tetracycline suffered worse intestinal damage than those exposed to either pollutant alone. The combination severely disrupted the gut barrier, altered gut bacteria, and increased antibiotic resistance genes in the intestines. This is especially concerning for children, whose developing gut systems may be more vulnerable to the combined effects of microplastics and antibiotics commonly found in the environment.

2025 Environment International 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined effects of microplastics and chlortetracycline on the intestinal barrier, gut microbiota, and antibiotic resistome of Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata)

Researchers fed Muscovy ducks polystyrene microplastics and the antibiotic chlortetracycline, alone and together, for 56 days. The combination damaged the intestinal barrier, disrupted gut bacteria, and increased antibiotic resistance genes more than either contaminant alone. This is concerning because waterfowl in contaminated environments face simultaneous exposure to microplastics and antibiotics, which may accelerate the spread of antibiotic resistance.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 47 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined toxic effects of nanoplastics and norfloxacin on mussel: Leveraging biochemical parameters and gut microbiota

Researchers exposed mussels to nanoplastics and the antibiotic norfloxacin, both alone and together, and found that the combination caused greater biochemical stress than either pollutant alone. Nanoplastics appeared to carry the antibiotic into mussel tissues, increasing its bioavailability and impact on gut microbiota. The findings suggest that nanoplastics can amplify the toxicity of other contaminants in marine organisms.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Gut microbiota related response of Oryzias melastigma to combined exposure of polystyrene microplastics and tetracycline

Researchers exposed estuarine fish to polystyrene microplastics and the antibiotic tetracycline, both alone and in combination, for four weeks. The combined exposure caused more severe disruption to gut bacteria and liver tissue than either pollutant alone, with microplastics appearing to worsen the effects of tetracycline. The study suggests that the co-occurrence of microplastics and antibiotics in coastal waters may pose greater ecological risks than either contaminant by itself.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of microplastics on oxytetracycline trophic transfer: Immune, gut microbiota and antibiotic resistance gene responses

When polypropylene microplastics and the antibiotic oxytetracycline were present together in water, the microplastics acted as carriers that increased antibiotic buildup in shrimp and fish through the food chain. This combination caused more gut and liver damage, weakened immune defenses, and promoted the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The findings highlight that microplastics can make antibiotic pollution worse by helping resistant genes move up the food chain.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics and tetracycline on intestinal injury in mice

Researchers found that mice exposed to both microplastics and the antibiotic tetracycline suffered more intestinal damage than those exposed to either pollutant alone. The combined exposure caused distinct injuries across different segments of the intestine and disrupted gut bacteria composition. This is concerning because humans are commonly exposed to both microplastics and antibiotic residues through food and water.

2023 Chemosphere 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastics and Enrofloxacin on the Life Histories and Gut Microbiota of Daphnia magna

Researchers exposed Daphnia magna to polystyrene nanoplastics and the antibiotic enrofloxacin alone and in combination, measuring life history traits and gut microbiota responses. Both stressors individually reduced survival and reproduction, and combined exposure altered the taxonomic composition and metabolic function of gut microbiota more than either contaminant alone.

2022 Water 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of microplastics and nitrite exposure on intestinal histology, digestion, immunity, and microbial community of shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

Shrimp exposed to both microplastics and nitrite (a common water pollutant) suffered more intestinal damage than those exposed to either pollutant alone. The combined exposure disrupted gut bacteria, increased stress and cell death markers, and weakened immune function in the shrimp. While this study focused on aquatic animals, it shows how microplastics can amplify the harmful effects of other environmental pollutants.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics aggravate the bioaccumulation of three veterinary antibiotics in the thick shell mussel Mytilus coruscus and induce synergistic immunotoxic effects

Researchers studied how polystyrene microplastics interact with three common veterinary antibiotics in thick shell mussels. The study found that when microplastics and antibiotics were present together, mussels accumulated significantly more antibiotics in their tissues and suffered worse immune damage than from either pollutant alone. This synergistic effect included reduced immune cell counts, increased oxidative stress, and disrupted immune gene expression, suggesting that microplastic pollution may amplify the harmful effects of antibiotic contamination in coastal waters.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 134 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics and cypermethrin exposure interfered the complexity of antibiotic resistance genes and induced metabolic dysfunction in the gut of adult zebrafish

Zebrafish exposed to a combination of polystyrene microplastics and the pesticide cypermethrin showed more severe gut damage than from either pollutant alone, including loss of beneficial gut bacteria, growth of harmful microbes, and increased antibiotic resistance genes. This suggests that microplastics and pesticides together may disrupt gut health more than expected, which is relevant since humans encounter both pollutants through food and water.

2025 Environmental Pollution 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined toxic effects of nanoplastics and norfloxacin on antioxidant and immune genes in mussels

Researchers studied the combined toxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and the antibiotic norfloxacin on mussels, focusing on genes related to antioxidant defense and immune function. They found that the mixture of both contaminants produced more severe disruptions to gene expression than either substance alone, indicating a synergistic toxic effect. The study suggests that the co-occurrence of nanoplastics and antibiotics in marine environments may pose compounding risks to shellfish health.

2023 Marine Environmental Research 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Metagenomic analysis explores the interaction of aged microplastics and roxithromycin on gut microbiota and antibiotic resistance genes of Carassius auratus

Researchers examined how aged polystyrene microplastics interact with the antibiotic roxithromycin in the gut of goldfish using metagenomic analysis. They found that aging enhanced the microplastics' ability to carry and release the antibiotic, leading to greater intestinal inflammation and disruption of gut microbial communities. The combined exposure also selectively enriched antibiotic resistance genes, suggesting that aged microplastics may amplify the ecological risks of antibiotic pollution.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 93 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined effects of microplastics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria on Daphnia magna growth and expression of functional genes

Researchers tested the combined effects of microplastics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria on tiny freshwater organisms called Daphnia magna. They found that polystyrene microplastics colonized with resistant Shigella bacteria were ingested and trapped in the organisms' intestines, causing changes in body size, reproduction, and gene expression. The study suggests that microplastics carrying antibiotic-resistant bacteria may pose amplified ecological risks to aquatic food chains.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Multi-Omics Platforms Reveal Synergistic Intestinal Toxicity in Tilapia from Acute Co-Exposure to Polystyrene Microplastics, Sulfamethoxazole, and BDE153

Researchers exposed tilapia to polystyrene microplastics combined with an antibiotic and a flame retardant to study their combined effects on gut health. Using multiple analytical methods, they found that the pollutant mixtures caused significant intestinal damage, including reduced immune activity, disrupted lipid metabolism, and decreased goblet cell density. The study suggests that microplastics and co-occurring contaminants can work together to amplify harmful effects on fish digestive systems.

2025 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 3 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Meta-analysis unravels the complex combined toxicity of microplastics and antibiotics in aquatic ecosystems

A meta-analysis of 730 datasets found that microplastics amplify antibiotic accumulation in aquatic organisms and worsen effects on growth, development, and immune function, but paradoxically appear to mitigate reproductive toxicity from antibiotics. The impact depends on biological response pathway, microplastic concentration, antibiotic properties, and exposure time, with an inverse relationship between antibiotic toxicity and both microplastic concentration and exposure duration.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 28 citations
Article Tier 2

The combined effects of microplastics and bisphenol-A on the innate immune system response and intestinal microflora of the swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus

Swimming crabs exposed to both microplastics and bisphenol-A (BPA, a chemical found in many plastics) for 21 days showed weakened immune responses and disrupted gut bacteria compared to exposure to either pollutant alone. The combination caused more intestinal damage and greater shifts in gene activity related to immune defense. This suggests that microplastics and the chemicals they carry can work together to cause greater harm to marine organisms than either one would cause by itself.

2024 Aquatic Toxicology 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Subchronic toxicity of dietary sulfamethazine and nanoplastics in marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma): Insights from the gut microbiota and intestinal oxidative status

Researchers found that dietary co-exposure to the antibiotic sulfamethazine and polystyrene nanoplastics in marine medaka caused significant disruption of gut microbiota composition and increased intestinal oxidative stress, with combined effects exceeding individual exposures.

2021 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 48 citations
Article Tier 2

Higher toxicity induced by co-exposure of polystyrene microplastics and chloramphenicol to Microcystis aeruginosa: Experimental study and molecular dynamics simulation

Researchers studied what happens when the antibiotic chloramphenicol and polystyrene microplastics are present together in water containing blue-green algae. The study found that the combined exposure was more toxic to the algae than either pollutant alone, disrupting photosynthesis and gene expression. The findings suggest that microplastics and antibiotics may interact in ways that amplify their harmful effects on aquatic ecosystems.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 38 citations
Article Tier 2

The interaction between polyethylene microplastics and ciprofloxacin on inducing hepatotoxicity in Carassius auratus via the gut-liver axis

Researchers co-exposed crucian carp to polyethylene microplastics and the antibiotic ciprofloxacin and assessed liver toxicity through the gut-liver axis. The combination caused greater hepatic injury than either contaminant alone—disrupting gut microbiota, increasing intestinal permeability, and amplifying liver inflammation—highlighting synergistic toxicity when fish are exposed to both antibiotic and plastic pollution.

2025 Environmental Pollution
Article Tier 2

Combined effects of micro-/nano-plastics and oxytetracycline on the intestinal histopathology and microbiome in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers studied the combined effects of micro- and nano-sized plastics with the antibiotic oxytetracycline on zebrafish intestines over 30 days. Nano-sized plastics caused more intestinal damage than micro-sized ones, and combined exposures altered gut bacterial communities and increased antibiotic resistance genes. The findings suggest that the co-occurrence of plastic particles and antibiotics in aquatic environments may have compounding negative effects on fish gut health.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 90 citations
Article Tier 2

Gut–Liver Axis Mediates the Combined Hepatointestinal Toxicity of Triclosan and Polystyrene Microplastics in Mice: Implications for Human Co-Exposure Risks

Mice co-exposed to the antimicrobial triclosan and polystyrene microplastics showed markedly worse intestinal and liver damage than those exposed to either contaminant alone, with gut microbiome disruption identified as a key mediating mechanism.

2025 Toxics
Article Tier 2

The co-presence of polystyrene nanoplastics and ofloxacin demonstrates combined effects on the structure, assembly, and metabolic activities of marine microbial community

Researchers examined the combined effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and the antibiotic ofloxacin on marine microbial communities. They found that the two pollutants together had a greater impact on bacterial community structure and metabolic activity than either one alone. The study suggests that nanoplastics and antibiotics co-occurring in the ocean may work together to disrupt the microorganisms that support marine ecosystem health.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Unraveling the toxic trio: Combined effects of thifluzamide, enrofloxacin, and microplastics on Mytilus coruscus

Researchers examined the combined effects of the pesticide thifluzamide, the antibiotic enrofloxacin, and polystyrene microplastics on mussels over four weeks. They found that co-exposure increased the accumulation of both chemicals in mussel tissue and worsened oxidative damage, neurotoxicity, and metabolic disruption compared to single exposures. The study suggests that the presence of microplastics in waterways can amplify the harmful effects of pesticides and antibiotics on edible shellfish.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 1 citations