Papers

61,005 results
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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

Polystyrene microparticles can affect the health status of freshwater fish – Threat of oral microplastics intake

Researchers fed juvenile rainbow trout polystyrene microplastics at three dietary concentrations for six weeks and assessed multiple health parameters. They found that the highest concentration triggered immune responses, liver and gill damage, disrupted antioxidant balance, and reduced plasma proteins. The study demonstrates that oral microplastic intake can negatively affect the health of freshwater fish across multiple organ systems.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 44 citations
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

Polystyrene nanoplastics target lysosomes and affect lipid metabolism in RTgutGC and head kidney macrophages from Oncorhynchus mykiss

Researchers investigated the subcellular targets of polystyrene nanoplastics in rainbow trout intestinal cells and head kidney macrophages, finding that PS-NPs co-localized with lysosomes but not mitochondria and did not trigger reactive oxygen species production or alter oxidative metabolism. RNASeq analysis further revealed effects on lipid metabolism pathways, indicating that lysosomal targeting and lipid disruption are key mechanisms of nanoplastic toxicity in fish cells.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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

Changes in haematology, metabolic rate, and cellular structure of spleen and head kidney of brown trout, Salmo trutta, after exposure to polystyrene microplastic particles

Researchers fed brown trout polystyrene particles for 30 days and found that particles accumulated in spleen and head kidney tissue (1–51.6 μg/g) with 1 μm particles predominating at 80%, and that exposure altered hematological parameters, metabolic rate, and cellular structure of immune organs.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology
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

Polystyrene nanospheres-induced hepatotoxicity in swamp eel (Monopterus albus): From biochemical, pathological and transcriptomic perspectives

Researchers exposed swamp eels to polystyrene nanoplastics for 28 days and found significant liver damage including oxidative stress, tissue abnormalities, and disrupted gene expression related to immune response and metabolism. Higher concentrations caused more severe liver injury, with changes detectable at both the biochemical and genetic levels. This study adds evidence that nanoplastic exposure can harm liver function in freshwater species important to aquaculture and local food supplies.

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

Transcriptome sequencing and metabolite analysis reveal the toxic effects of nanoplastics on tilapia after exposure to polystyrene

Researchers exposed larval tilapia to polystyrene nanoplastics and then analyzed changes in gene expression and metabolic profiles after a recovery period. They found that nanoplastic exposure disrupted immune-related pathways, energy metabolism, and lipid processing in the fish, with some effects persisting even after exposure ended. The study suggests that nanoplastics can cause lasting metabolic and immune disruptions in freshwater fish.

2021 Environmental Pollution 69 citations
Article Tier 2

Phenotypic profiling reveals polystyrene nanoplastics elicit sublethal and lethal effects on cellular morphology in rainbow trout gill epithelial cells

Image-based phenotypic profiling revealed that polystyrene nanoplastics induced both sublethal and lethal morphological changes in rainbow trout gill epithelial cells at environmentally relevant concentrations, with dose-dependent effects on cell shape, nuclear integrity, and cytoskeletal organization.

2025 Environmental Science Nano 3 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

Long-Term Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics Impairs the Liver Health of Medaka

Researchers found that three months of exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics caused significant liver damage in medaka fish, including oxidative stress, immune disruption, and altered gene expression related to lipid metabolism and detoxification pathways.

2022 Water 23 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

Uptake, distribution and elimination of palladium-doped polystyrene nanoplastics in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) following dietary exposure

Researchers tracked the uptake, tissue distribution, and elimination of palladium-doped polystyrene nanoplastics in rainbow trout during dietary exposure and depuration. The study found that nanoplastics accumulated primarily in the intestinal tissues and were also detected in the liver, gallbladder, and kidney, with incomplete clearance after the depuration period.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic nanoparticles cause mild inflammation, disrupt metabolic pathways, change the gut microbiota and affect reproduction in zebrafish: A full generation multi-omics study.

Exposure of zebrafish to polystyrene nanoparticles throughout their entire first generation caused mild inflammation, disrupted metabolic pathways, altered gut microbiota, and impaired reproduction — even at environmentally relevant concentrations. This comprehensive multigenerational study demonstrates that nanoplastic exposure can have lasting biological effects across multiple body systems in fish.

2022 Journal of hazardous materials
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

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

The mechanism of polystyrene nanoplastics hepatotoxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

This study investigated the hepatotoxic mechanisms of polystyrene nanoplastics in zebrafish (Danio rerio), finding that nanoplastics accumulating in the liver triggered oxidative stress and cellular injury pathways. The results highlight nanoplastics as a significant liver toxicant in aquatic vertebrates.

2024 E3S Web of Conferences
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 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

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

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

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

Investigation of the impact caused by different sizes of polyethylene plastics (nano, micro, and macro) in common carp juveniles, Cyprinus carpio L., using multi-biomarkers.

Common carp juveniles exposed to polyethylene plastics of three different sizes (nano, micro, and macro) all showed tissue damage, oxidative stress, and immune disruption, with nanoparticles causing the most severe effects. The size-dependent toxicity pattern suggests that as larger environmental plastics break down into smaller particles, their potential to harm fish — and ultimately people who eat them — may increase.

2022 The Science of the total environment