Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Eco-toxicity assessment of polypropylene microplastics in juvenile zebrafish (Danio rerio)

This study exposed young zebrafish to polypropylene microplastics for 28 days and found that the particles built up in their digestive tracts, causing oxidative stress, liver damage, and blood cell death. The damage increased with higher microplastic concentrations, and brain function was also affected through changes in a key neurotransmitter enzyme. These findings suggest that even common plastics like polypropylene can cause significant organ damage when ingested over time.

2024 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Chronic Exposure of Adult Zebrafish to Polyethylene and Polyester-based Microplastics: Metabolomic and Gut Microbiome Alterations Reflecting Dysbiosis and Resilience

Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to polyethylene and polyester microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations and found significant disruptions to metabolic pathways and gut microbiome composition. Polyethylene primarily affected cell membrane compounds and inflammation-related metabolites, while polyester altered lipid metabolism and gut bacterial interactions. The study reveals that chronic microplastic exposure can cause subtle but meaningful shifts in fish metabolism and gut health, even at low concentrations.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Dose-Dependent Cytotoxicity of Polypropylene Microplastics (PP-MPs) in Two Freshwater Fishes

Researchers fed zebrafish and freshwater perch polypropylene microplastics at low and high doses and measured cellular damage in liver and gill tissues. They found dose-dependent toxicity including DNA damage up to 18-fold higher than controls, lipid peroxidation, and disrupted metabolism of key compounds like tryptophan. The study provides evidence that polypropylene microplastic ingestion causes significant cellular harm to freshwater fish in a dose-dependent manner.

2022 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 56 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects on immunity of exposure to microplastics in adult zebrafish

Adult zebrafish exposed to microplastics showed changes in liver gene expression, gut and gill tissue damage, and altered swimming behavior, indicating that microplastic exposure triggers multiple biological stress responses. The study highlights the relevance of zebrafish as a model for assessing microplastic toxicity.

2019 Use Siena air (University of Siena)
Article Tier 2

Effects of pristine or contaminated polyethylene microplastics on zebrafish development

Researchers examined the effects of both pristine and pollutant-contaminated polyethylene microplastics on zebrafish development through chronic exposure. The study assessed how microplastics, both alone and as carriers of adsorbed organic pollutants, affect developing fish. The findings provide new insights into how contaminated microplastics may create additional routes for toxic compounds to enter aquatic food webs.

2022 Chemosphere 66 citations
Article Tier 2

Mechanism insights into the histopathological changes of polypropylene microplastics induced gut and liver in zebrafish

Researchers exposed zebrafish to polypropylene microplastics, one of the most common plastics found in rivers, and found damage to both the intestines and liver. The microplastics thinned the intestinal walls, disrupted gut bacteria communities, and altered liver gene activity related to fat processing and immune response. Since polypropylene is widely found in food packaging and the environment, these findings raise questions about similar effects in humans who ingest this type of microplastic.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Histopathological Examination of Zebrafish Organs Under the Exposure to Microplastics

This study conducted histopathological examination of zebrafish organs following microplastic exposure, assessing tissue-level damage in multiple organ systems. The work is part of a broader Kazakhstani research program studying the effects of anthropogenic pollutants on commercial fish species.

2024 Experimental biology
Article Tier 2

Eco Toxicological Assessment of Micro Plastic Ingestion in Freshwater Fishes: A Case Study on Bioaccumulation and Histopathological Alterations

Researchers assessed microplastic accumulation in three freshwater fish species (tilapia, rohu, catla) from a major river system, finding microplastics in gastrointestinal tracts and associated histopathological damage in gills, liver, and kidneys.

2025 Asian Journal of Research in Zoology
Article Tier 2

Chronic feeding exposure to virgin and spiked microplastics disrupts essential biological functions in teleost fish

Researchers fed zebrafish and marine medaka environmentally relevant concentrations of virgin and chemically spiked polyethylene and PVC microplastics over four months. While classical biomarkers showed no changes, significant decreases in growth and disruptions to reproduction, gut integrity, and liver function were observed. The findings suggest that chronic dietary exposure to microplastics can disrupt essential biological functions in fish even without triggering traditional toxicity markers.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 90 citations
Article Tier 2

Uptake and Accumulation of Polystyrene Microplastics in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) and Toxic Effects in Liver

Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics of two different sizes and tracked where the particles accumulated in the body. They found that smaller particles (5 micrometers) built up in the gills, liver, and gut, while larger particles (20 micrometers) mainly stayed in the gills and gut. The microplastics caused liver inflammation, oxidative stress, and disrupted fat metabolism, suggesting that ingested microplastics can damage internal organs in fish.

2016 Environmental Science & Technology 1980 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects on Zebrafish of Chemical Contaminants and Additives Present in Microplastics

Researchers fed zebrafish for 60 days on diets containing 10% environmental microplastics collected from beaches in Lanzarote and Tenerife, alongside clean pellet and control groups, then analyzed chemical contaminants in tissues by liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry. Results confirmed bioaccumulation of plastic additives and chemical contaminants in zebrafish tissues over time, with plastic synthesizers reaching the highest tissue concentrations followed by plasticizers.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Acute toxic effects of polyethylene microplastic on adult zebrafish

Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to polyethylene microplastics of various sizes to identify physical effects, behavioral changes, and gene expression impacts. They found that microplastic ingestion varied by particle size and that exposure altered expression of detoxification and reproduction-related genes. The study suggests that microplastic pollution at environmentally relevant concentrations could affect both the health and reproductive capacity of fish.

2019 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 290 citations
Article Tier 2

Histological, enzymatic and chemical analyses of the potential effects of differently sized microplastic particles upon long-term ingestion in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed zebrafish to microplastics of varying sizes for extended periods and conducted histological and biochemical analyses, finding no evidence of particle translocation to liver in properly controlled experiments and calling for critical reassessment of studies claiming large microplastics cross biological barriers.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 74 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effect of chronic exposure to polyethylene nano/microplastics on oxidative stress, neurotoxicity and gut microbiota of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to polyethylene microplastics and nanoplastics for 21 days and found both caused oxidative damage to organs, disrupted brain function, and altered gut bacteria. Surprisingly, the toxic effects of microplastics and nanoplastics were similar in terms of brain and gut impacts, though organ-level oxidative damage varied by tissue type. These findings are concerning because they show that the plastic particles commonly found in food and water can simultaneously harm the brain, gut, and vital organs.

2023 Chemosphere 76 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of MP Polyethylene Microparticles on Microbiome and Inflammatory Response of Larval Zebrafish

Zebrafish larvae exposed to polyethylene microplastics for up to 10 days showed no broad metabolic disturbances or inflammatory changes, but oxidative stress markers increased at 15 days and the gut microbiome was disrupted, with higher levels of bacteria linked to intestinal disease. The findings suggest microplastics alter the microbial environment of fish guts without triggering obvious inflammation.

2020 Toxics 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Histopathological evaluation of two Blennius fishes exposed to microplastics via feeding

This study exposed two blenny fish species to microplastics via their natural diet and examined histopathological changes in their tissues, finding inflammatory and structural damage in the intestine and liver. The results demonstrate that dietary microplastic exposure causes measurable organ-level damage in fish, which is relevant for understanding risks to fish consumed by humans.

2017 Revista de Estudos Anglo-Portugueses/Journal of Anglo-Portuguese Studies
Article Tier 2

Acute Toxic Effects of Polyurethane Microplastics on Adult Zebra Fish (Danio Rerio)

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to polyurethane microplastics (PUR-MPs) to assess acute toxicity, tissue accumulation, and associated biochemical changes. The study found that PUR-MPs were taken up and accumulated in multiple tissues, causing toxic effects that included oxidative stress and altered biochemical markers.

2021 International Journal of Environmental Health Engineering 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Comprehensive review of ecological risks and toxicity mechanisms of microplastics in freshwater: Focus on zebrafish as a model organism

This comprehensive review examines how microplastics affect zebrafish, a widely used laboratory model, covering impacts on the gut, liver, reproductive system, nervous system, and immune function. Researchers found that microplastics can cause oxidative stress, inflammation, and disruption of gut bacteria across multiple organ systems. The review highlights that zebrafish studies provide valuable insights into the biological mechanisms by which microplastics may affect freshwater organisms and, potentially, human health.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Differentiation in the expression of toxic effects of polyethylene-microplastics on two freshwater fish species: Size matters

Researchers exposed zebrafish and perch to two sizes of polyethylene microplastics for 21 days and found that smaller particles were more toxic, accumulating primarily in the liver while larger ones concentrated in the gills. Both sizes triggered oxidative stress, DNA damage, and activated cell death pathways in both species. The study demonstrates that microplastic particle size is a key factor in determining where the particles end up in fish tissues and how severely they cause harm.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 98 citations
Article Tier 2

Biomarker responses in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae exposed to pristine low-density polyethylene fragments

Researchers exposed zebrafish larvae to pristine low-density polyethylene microplastics and measured biomarker responses, finding altered oxidative stress and metabolic indicators even in early developmental stages.

2017 Environmental Pollution 153 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Polyethylene Microplastics Exposureon Intestinal Flora of Zebrafish

Polyethylene microplastic exposure altered gut microbiota composition in zebrafish in both size-dependent and time-dependent ways, with smaller particles and longer exposure durations producing greater shifts in bacterial community structure, including increases in potential pathobionts and decreases in beneficial genera.

2021 Polish Journal of Environmental Studies 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Deleterious Effects of Polypropylene Microplastic Ingestion in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Researchers fed Nile tilapia daily doses of polypropylene microplastics for 30 days and observed significant health effects including changes in blood cell counts, altered gut bacteria, and tissue damage to the intestines and liver. The higher dose group showed more pronounced effects, including elevated inflammatory markers and signs of oxidative stress. The study provides evidence that chronic ingestion of microplastics commonly found in aquatic environments can cause meaningful harm to a widely consumed fish species.

2023 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Biological alterations of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics on Danio rerio at environmentally relevant concentrations – risk assessment

Researchers assessed the toxic effects of polyvinyl chloride microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations on zebrafish over 20 days. The study found that PVC microplastics accumulated in the gastrointestinal tract and caused biological alterations including changes in growth, behavior, and tissue integrity, highlighting potential ecological risks at realistic exposure levels.

2026 Fish Physiology and Biochemistry
Article Tier 2

Ingestion and effects of virgin polyamide microplastics on Chironomus riparius adult larvae and adult zebrafish Danio rerio

Scientists fed polyamide microplastics to Chironomus riparius larvae and adult zebrafish, finding ingestion in both species, with larger particles retained in fish intestines and both species showing signs of inflammation and oxidative stress.

2020 Chemosphere 68 citations