Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Neurotoxic effects of different sizes of plastics (nano, micro, and macro) on juvenile common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Researchers assessed the neurotoxic effects of polyethylene plastics at nano, micro, and macro sizes on juvenile common carp brains. The study found that all plastic sizes reduced brain enzyme activity by 30-40%, with smaller particles causing more pronounced effects, and histological examination revealed structural changes in brain tissue, suggesting that size plays a significant role in plastic neurotoxicity.

2022 Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience 53 citations
Article Tier 2

Neurotoxic effects of different sizes of plastics (Nano, Micro, and Macro) on juvenile common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Researchers found that polyethylene plastics across three size classes (nano, micro, and macro) impair neurological function in juvenile common carp (Cyprinus carpio), with all size classes reducing acetylcholinesterase and monoamine oxidase activity and altering nitric oxide levels in brain tissue, indicating size-dependent neurotoxic effects.

2022 Research Square (Research Square) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of microplastic (polyethylene) on accumulation, hematological parameters and antioxidant responses in mirror carp, Cyprinus carpio nudus according to different particle sizes

Researchers exposed mirror carp to polyethylene microplastics of two different sizes and found that smaller particles accumulated more readily in tissues and caused greater biological effects. The fish showed changes in blood parameters and antioxidant enzyme activity, with effects increasing at higher concentrations. The study suggests that microplastic particle size is an important factor in determining toxicity to freshwater fish.

2025 Environmental Pollution 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Neurotoxic effects of different sizes of plastics (Nano, Micro, and Macro) on juvenile common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Researchers found that polyethylene plastic particles of nano, micro, and macro sizes all reduced acetylcholinesterase, monoamine oxidase, and nitric oxide levels by 30-40% in the brains of juvenile common carp after 15-day exposures, with nanoplastics causing the greatest damage including brain tissue necrosis, edema, and retinal degeneration.

2022 Research Square (Research Square) 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Subacute toxic effects of polyvinyl chloride microplastics (PVC-MPs) in juvenile common carp, Cyprinus carpio (Pisces: Cyprinidae)

Juvenile common carp exposed to polyvinyl chloride microplastics showed dose-dependent toxic effects including tissue damage, oxidative stress, and altered biochemical markers over a subacute exposure period. The results indicate that PVC microplastics are harmful to freshwater fish at ecologically relevant concentrations.

2022 SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of microplastic (polyethylene) exposure: Bioaccumulation, hematological parameters and antioxidant responses in crucian carp, Carassius carassius

Researchers exposed crucian carp to polyethylene microplastics at various concentrations and found that the particles accumulated in tissues including gills, gut, and liver. The microplastics altered blood cell counts and disrupted the fish's antioxidant defense system in a dose-dependent manner. The study suggests that even common polyethylene microplastics can cause measurable biological harm in freshwater fish.

2023 Chemosphere 35 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

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

Toxicological effects of nano- and micro-polystyrene plastics on red tilapia: Are larger plastic particles more harmless?

Researchers exposed red tilapia to three sizes of polystyrene particles (0.3, 5, and 70-90 micrometers) to compare their toxic effects. The study found that the largest particles showed the highest accumulation in tissues, but all sizes induced oxidative stress, disrupted cytochrome P450 enzymes, caused neurotoxicity, and altered metabolic profiles, indicating that even smaller nanoplastics can cause significant harm to fish.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 253 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 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

Different effects of nano- and microplastics on oxidative status and gut microbiota in the marine medaka Oryzias melastigma

Researchers compared the effects of nanoplastics and microplastics on oxidative stress and gut microbiota in marine medaka fish. They found that nanoplastics caused more severe oxidative damage and greater disruption to the gut microbial community than larger microplastic particles. The study suggests that particle size plays a critical role in determining the biological impact of plastic pollution on aquatic organisms.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 244 citations
Article Tier 2

Size Effects of Microplastics on Embryos and Observation of Toxicity Kinetics in Larvae of Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

Researchers examined size-dependent effects of microplastics on grass carp embryos and larvae, finding that nanoscale particles (80 nm) caused more severe developmental toxicity than microscale particles (8 micrometers) at the same concentrations.

2022 Toxics 30 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Potential toxicity of nanoplastics to fish and aquatic invertebrates: Current understanding, mechanistic interpretation, and meta-analysis

Nanoplastics significantly reduced survival, behavior, and reproduction of fish and aquatic invertebrates by 56%, 24%, and 36% respectively, while increasing oxidative stress by 72% and decreasing antioxidant defenses by 24%, with effects influenced by particle size, functional groups, and concentration.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 77 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of nanoplastics on fish health and performance: A review

Researchers reviewed studies on nanoplastics (particles smaller than 100 nm) in fish and found evidence of tissue accumulation, impaired locomotion and foraging, immune and growth disruption, altered lipid metabolism, and neurotoxicity, though mortality and developmental malformations had not yet been reported.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 162 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
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

A dosage-effect assessment of acute toxicology tests of microplastic exposure in filter-feeding fish

Researchers assessed the dose-dependent effects of polystyrene microplastics on silver carp, a filter-feeding fish, during a 48-hour exposure and recovery period. Low concentrations induced oxidative stress and gene upregulation in the intestine, with the fish able to recover after exposure ended. However, high concentrations caused significant gill and intestinal damage that persisted even after the microplastics were removed.

2021 Fish & Shellfish Immunology 57 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure to polypropylene microplastics via diet and water induces oxidative stress in Cyprinus carpio

Researchers fed carp fish polypropylene microplastics through both food and water and found that exposure caused oxidative stress in the liver, gills, and intestines. The damage was dose-dependent, with higher microplastic concentrations causing more harm to the fish's antioxidant defense systems. Since carp is a widely consumed fish, these findings raise questions about whether microplastics in aquaculture could affect the safety of fish as human food.

2023 Aquatic Toxicology 76 citations
Article Tier 2

Polyethylene microplastics increases the tissue damage caused by 4-nonylphenol in the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) juvenile

Researchers found that polyethylene microplastics increased tissue damage caused by the endocrine disruptor 4-nonylphenol in juvenile common carp, with combined exposure producing more severe histopathological changes in gills, liver, and kidneys than individual exposures.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of polyethylene microplastics on transcriptional changes, biochemical response, and oxidative stress in common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Researchers exposed common carp to varying concentrations of polyethylene microplastics and assessed biochemical, oxidative, and gene expression changes. The study found that microplastic exposure caused significant oxidative stress, altered liver enzyme activity, and modified the expression of stress-related genes in a dose-dependent manner.

2022 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology 72 citations
Article Tier 2

Integrated Biomarker, Histopathological and Genotoxicity‐Based Toxicological Evaluation of Polystyrene and Polyethylene Microplastics in Oreochromis mossambicus

Researchers exposed Mozambique tilapia to polystyrene and polyethylene microplastics and found dose-dependent accumulation in gill, gut, and liver tissues. Polyethylene proved significantly more toxic, causing greater oxidative stress, metabolic disruption, and chromosomal damage as measured by micronucleus assays. The study provides evidence that different polymer types can have markedly different toxicological impacts on freshwater fish.

2025 Journal of Applied Toxicology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polymeric nanoparticles on fish : a multiparametric approach

This study assessed the effects of polymeric nanoparticles on fish using multiple endpoints including growth, reproduction, and gene expression, finding significant biological effects even at low concentrations. The results support the conclusion that plastic nanoparticles pose risks to aquatic vertebrates and provide data relevant to understanding the safety of nanoparticle-containing consumer products.

2017 Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT)
Article Tier 2

Polyethylene microplastics trigger cell apoptosis and inflammation via inducing oxidative stress and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in carp gills

Researchers exposed carp gills to polyethylene microplastics and found that the particles triggered cell death and inflammation through oxidative stress and activation of a key immune signaling pathway called the NLRP3 inflammasome. Higher microplastic concentrations caused more severe gill tissue damage and stronger inflammatory responses. The study reveals a specific molecular mechanism by which microplastics can harm the immune function of freshwater fish.

2022 Fish & Shellfish Immunology 149 citations