Papers

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Article Tier 2

Polycarbonate and polystyrene nanoplastic particles act as stressors to the innate immune system of fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)

Researchers studied the effects of polycarbonate and polystyrene nanoplastic particles on the innate immune system of fathead minnows. The study found that these nanoplastics acted as stressors to the fish immune system, suggesting that small-scale plastic particles can interfere with immune function in freshwater organisms.

2016 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 339 citations
Article Tier 2

In vivo effects on the immune function of fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) following ingestion and intraperitoneal injection of polystyrene nanoplastics

Researchers exposed adult fathead minnow to polystyrene nanoplastics via ingestion and intraperitoneal injection and found that both routes delivered particles to liver and kidney and downregulated innate immune genes — including those controlling neutrophil, macrophage, and complement function — suggesting trophic transfer of nanoplastics can compromise fish immune defenses.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 65 citations
Article Tier 2

Immunotoxicity responses to polystyrene nanoplastics and their related mechanisms in the liver of zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae

Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoplastics affect the immune system of zebrafish larvae by examining inflammatory responses in the liver. They found that smaller nanoparticles caused more severe immune reactions, including increased neutrophil and macrophage activity and activation of inflammatory signaling pathways. The study provides evidence that nanoplastics can trigger significant immune system disruption in fish even at early life stages.

2022 Environment International 127 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene Nanoplastics Induce Multi-Organ Toxicity in the Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): An Integrated Assessment of Physiological, Immunological, and Molecular Responses

Rainbow trout were exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics at three concentrations for 28 days and assessed for physiological, immunological, and molecular responses across multiple organs. NPs accumulated in liver, spleen, and intestine, causing dose-dependent oxidative stress, immune dysregulation, and altered gene expression, demonstrating multi-organ toxicity in a commercially important fish species.

2025
Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on oxidative stress, histopathology and intestinal microbiota in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

Researchers exposed largemouth bass — a commercially important freshwater fish — to polystyrene nanoplastics (tiny plastic particles 100 nanometers in size) for up to 19 days, finding tissue damage in the gills, liver, and intestines along with elevated markers of cellular stress. While growth was not significantly affected, the fish adjusted their gut microbiome in response, suggesting nanoplastics trigger adaptive but potentially harmful physiological changes.

2022 Aquaculture Reports 42 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nano/microplastics induce microbiota dysbiosis, oxidative damage, and innate immune disruption in zebrafish

Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene particles of two different sizes and found that both nano- and micro-sized plastics disrupted gut bacteria, caused oxidative damage, and altered immune responses. The severity of effects depended on particle size and concentration, with smaller particles and higher doses causing more harm. The study suggests that plastic particles in waterways may pose a broader threat to fish health than previously understood, affecting digestion, stress defenses, and immunity simultaneously.

2022 Microbial Pathogenesis 86 citations
Article Tier 2

Bioaccumulation and homeostatic alterations in trout exposed to a sublethal dose of polystyrene nanoplastics

Researchers orally exposed rainbow trout to polystyrene nanoplastics and found the particles accumulated mainly in the gut and blood — not the liver — causing subtle immune and metabolic changes without visible tissue damage after 96 hours. These findings suggest nanoplastics selectively distribute in fish tissues and trigger mild biological responses even at sublethal doses.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances
Article Tier 2

Ecotoxicological effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on common carp: Insights into blood parameters, DNA damage, and gene expression

Exposing common carp to polystyrene nanoplastics caused significant DNA damage in blood and brain cells, along with changes in genes related to immune function and stress response. Higher concentrations led to more severe effects, and the nanoplastics also disrupted liver antioxidant defenses. Since carp are widely consumed fish, these findings raise questions about the safety of fish from nanoplastic-contaminated waters for human consumption.

2024 Journal of Applied Toxicology 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Sub-chronic nanoplastic toxicity in Etroplus suratensis (Pisces, Cichilidae): Insights into tissue accumulation, stress and metabolic disruption

Researchers exposed pearl spot fish to polystyrene nanoplastics at different concentrations for 14 days and found that the particles accumulated in multiple organs with concentration-dependent distribution patterns. The nanoplastics caused elevated glucose and cholesterol levels, suppressed antioxidant defenses, and increased markers of oxidative damage and stress. Gene expression changes in stress response and growth-related genes suggest that nanoplastic exposure may impair both immune function and normal development in fish.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on Oxidative Stress, Blood Biochemistry, and Digestive Enzyme Activity in Goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Goldfish exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics in their diet for 21 days showed significant oxidative stress, disrupted blood chemistry, and reduced digestive enzyme activity, with effects worsening at higher doses. The smallest nanoplastics caused the most damage to the fishes' antioxidant defense systems and overall health. These findings add to the evidence that nanoplastics in aquatic environments can harm fish health in ways that may affect the safety of fish consumed by humans.

2025 Toxics 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro-and nano-plastics induce kidney damage and suppression of innate immune function in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae

Zebrafish larvae exposed to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics developed kidney damage and weakened immune defenses, making them much more vulnerable to bacterial infection. Both particle sizes suppressed key immune pathways, but nanoplastics primarily caused stress in cells' protein-processing systems while microplastics triggered fat buildup in the kidneys -- showing how different-sized plastic particles can harm health through distinct mechanisms.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing the impact of dietary polystyrene nanoplastics on growth performance, immunological parameters, and antioxidant defense in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers fed zebrafish diets containing different concentrations of polystyrene nanoplastics for 30 days and observed reduced growth and increased stress markers at higher doses. The study found that nanoplastic exposure triggered oxidative stress, elevated cortisol levels, and altered immune-related gene expression, suggesting potential health impacts on fish from dietary nanoplastic intake.

2024 Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics accumulate in ZFL cell lysosomes and in zebrafish larvae after acute exposure, inducing a synergistic immune response in vitro without affecting larval survival in vivo

Polystyrene nanoplastics were shown to be internalized in zebrafish liver cells and accumulate in lysosomes, and while they triggered an immune response in cell cultures, they did not affect larval zebrafish survival in short-term exposures. This suggests that cellular toxicity may not always translate directly to whole-organism mortality at acute exposure levels.

2020 Environmental Science Nano 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Size-dependent effects of microplastic on uptake, immune system, related gene expression and histopathology of goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Researchers exposed goldfish to two sizes of polystyrene microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations for 28 days. The study found that microplastics accumulated in gill, liver, and intestine tissues, causing damage that worsened with smaller particle size and higher doses. The results indicate that microplastics trigger oxidative stress and immune responses in fish, with smaller particles posing greater health risks.

2021 Chemosphere 176 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of sub-chronic polystyrene nanoplastics exposure on hematology, histology, and endoplasmic reticulum stress-related protein expression in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Researchers exposed Nile tilapia to polystyrene nanoplastics for an extended period and found the particles caused blood cell changes, tissue damage in the liver and gills, and activated stress responses in cellular structures called the endoplasmic reticulum. Even the lowest concentration tested, which matches levels found in the environment, triggered harmful effects. Since tilapia is one of the most consumed farmed fish worldwide, these results highlight potential food safety concerns from nanoplastic contamination in aquaculture.

2024 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 13 citations
Article Tier 2

The toxicity of polystyrene micro- and nano-plastics on rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus) varies with the particle size and concentration

Scientists exposed rare minnow fish to polystyrene microplastics and nanoplastics at different sizes and concentrations and found that both caused growth inhibition, tissue damage, and disrupted gut bacteria. Interestingly, larger microplastics at high concentrations were the most disruptive to gut microbiome communities, while nanoplastics caused more oxidative stress. The study shows that the health effects of plastic particles depend on both their size and amount, and that gut health is a key target of microplastic toxicity.

2024 Aquatic Toxicology 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics Cause Neurobehavioral Impairments, Reproductive and Oxidative Damages, and Biomarker Responses in Zebrafish: Throwing up Alarms of Wide Spread Health Risk of Exposure

Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to polystyrene nanoplastics and found that the particles accumulated in the brain, liver, intestine, and gonads, causing significant behavioral and physiological changes. The fish showed disrupted energy metabolism, oxidative stress, and altered locomotion, aggression, and predator avoidance behaviors. The findings raise concerns about the widespread health risks of nanoplastic exposure, as these particles are small enough to cross biological membranes.

2020 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 410 citations
Article Tier 2

Transcriptome and Gene Family Analyses Reveal the Physiological and Immune Regulatory Mechanisms of Channa maculata Larvae in Response to Nanoplastic-Induced Oxidative Stress

Researchers exposed larvae of blotched snakehead fish to polystyrene nanoplastics at concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 20 mg/L and observed concentration-dependent damage to the liver and intestines. The nanoplastics triggered oxidative stress responses and affected genes involved in immune regulation and detoxification. The study suggests that nanoplastic pollution during early fish development could compromise both organ function and immune defenses.

2026 Antioxidants
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics Increase Fish Susceptibility to Nodavirus Infection and Reduce Antiviral Immune Responses

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics increased fish susceptibility to nervous necrosis virus by boosting viral replication and suppressing antiviral immune responses, both in brain cell cultures and in live European sea bass.

2022 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Amino-modified polystyrene nanoplastics induced multiple response of Artemia hemocytes

Researchers exposed the zooplankton Artemia to amino-modified polystyrene nanoplastics and observed multiple adverse responses in their blood cell system. The nanoplastics triggered changes across five hemocyte subpopulations, causing cell death, oxidative stress, and altered immune function at environmentally relevant concentrations. The study suggests that nanoplastic pollution may compromise the innate immune defenses of small aquatic organisms at the base of the food chain.

2024 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology 3 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

Toxicological effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on marine organisms

Researchers exposed Pacific white shrimp to polystyrene nanoplastics at various concentrations and measured immune, antioxidant, and tissue responses after seven days. They found that nanoplastic exposure disrupted immune function, increased oxidative stress, and caused tissue damage, particularly in the hepatopancreas and gills. The study adds to growing evidence that nanoplastics can harm the health of commercially important marine species.

2023 Environmental Technology & Innovation 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics significantly facilitate largemouth bass ranavirus infection of host cells

Researchers showed that polystyrene nanoplastics synergize with Largemouth bass ranavirus in fish cells, accelerating viral replication, amplifying oxidative stress and inflammation, and suppressing the cGAS-STING antiviral immune pathway — suggesting nanoplastics may worsen infectious disease outcomes in freshwater fish.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene nano- and microplastics and of microplastics with sorbed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in adult zebrafish

Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to nano- and microplastic particles of different sizes, some carrying additional chemical pollutants, over a 21-day period. The study found that nanoplastics and microplastics triggered different stress responses in the fish, with nanoplastics altering antioxidant gene activity and microplastics causing liver changes. The findings suggest that particle size matters when it comes to the biological effects of plastic pollution in aquatic organisms.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 25 citations