Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Toxicity of mixture of polyethylene microplastics and Up Grade® pesticide on Oreochromis niloticus juvenile: I. Hemato-biochemical and histopathological alterations

Researchers exposed juvenile Nile tilapia to a pesticide and polyethylene microplastics, both individually and in combination, and measured blood chemistry changes and organ damage over 15 days. The combination treatment caused more severe effects than either pollutant alone, including reduced red blood cell counts, elevated liver enzymes, and significant tissue damage to the gills and intestines. The study demonstrates that microplastics can worsen the toxic effects of agricultural pesticides on commercially important fish species.

2023 Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Behavioral, biochemical, immune, and histological responses of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus Linnaeus, 1758) to lead, mercury, and pendimethalin exposure: individual and combined effects

This study tested the effects of lead, mercury, and a pesticide on Nile tilapia fish and found that exposure to all three together caused the worst damage, including organ injury, weakened immune systems, and high mortality. While not directly about microplastics, the research is relevant because microplastics can carry heavy metals like lead and mercury in water, potentially amplifying their toxic effects on fish. Since tilapia is a common food fish, these combined pollutant effects could impact seafood safety.

2025 Environmental Sciences Europe 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Multi‐Biomarkers' Responses in Gills of Oreochromis niloticus Exposed to Glyphosate and Polyethylene Microplastic, Isolated and in Mixture

Researchers exposed tilapia fish to polyethylene microplastics and the herbicide glyphosate, both alone and in combination, and examined gill tissue for signs of damage. They found that the mixture of both contaminants caused more severe oxidative stress and tissue damage than either pollutant alone. The study suggests that microplastics and agricultural chemicals may interact in waterways to amplify harmful effects on fish health.

2024 Environmental Toxicology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Alteration of growth, hematology, histopathology of tissues and immune-antioxidant genes expression in Nile tilapia following co-exposure of hexavalent chromium and polyamide microplastics

Researchers exposed Nile tilapia to hexavalent chromium alone, polyamide microplastics alone, and their combination, finding that co-exposure caused greater growth inhibition, hematological changes, intestinal and liver damage, and suppressed antioxidant and immune gene expression than either pollutant individually.

2025 Ecotoxicology
Article Tier 2

Combined impacts of organophosphate pesticide and polyamide microplastics on growth, hematology, and immune responses in juvenile striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus)

Researchers exposed juvenile striped catfish to both polyamide microplastics and an organophosphate pesticide, finding that the combination caused more severe growth reduction, immune suppression, and organ damage than either pollutant alone — evidence that microplastics and pesticides can act together to amplify harm in freshwater fish.

2025 Emerging contaminants 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastic and engine oil synergistically intensify toxicity in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

This study found that polystyrene nanoplastics and engine oil together caused much worse damage to Nile tilapia fish than either pollutant alone, triggering severe inflammation, blood cell changes, and oxidative stress. The combined exposure overwhelmed the fish's natural defenses and caused significant organ damage. Since tilapia is a widely consumed fish, this research highlights how mixtures of pollutants in waterways could compound health risks for both aquatic life and humans who eat contaminated seafood.

2024 BMC Veterinary Research 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Individual and Combined Toxic Effects of Nano-ZnO and Polyethylene Microplastics on Mosquito Fish (Gambusia holbrooki)

Researchers studied the individual and combined effects of polyethylene microplastics and zinc oxide nanoparticles on mosquito fish. The combination caused greater damage to liver tissue, blood parameters, and antioxidant systems than either pollutant alone. The findings suggest that microplastics interacting with other environmental contaminants can amplify toxic effects in aquatic organisms.

2023 Water 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined effects of polystyrene microplastics and copper on antioxidant capacity, immune response and intestinal microbiota of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Researchers examined the combined effects of polystyrene microplastics and copper on Nile tilapia and found that co-exposure increased copper accumulation in the liver and caused tissue damage in multiple organs. High concentrations of both contaminants together triggered oxidative stress, inflammation, and shifts in intestinal microbial communities. The study suggests that microplastics can worsen the toxic effects of heavy metals on freshwater fish.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 67 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of Detoxification‐Related Gene Expression, Oxidative Stress Biomarkers, and Blood Biochemical Parameters in Common Carp ( Cyprinus carpio ) Co‐Exposed to Polyethylene Microplastics and Deltamethrin

Researchers investigated whether polyethylene microplastics worsen the toxic effects of the insecticide deltamethrin in juvenile common carp over a 30-day exposure. The study found that co-exposure to microplastics and deltamethrin affected detoxification-related gene expression, oxidative stress biomarkers, and blood biochemistry, suggesting that microplastics can modify the bioavailability and toxicity of co-occurring pesticides in fish.

2026 Journal of Applied Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Combined effects of microplastics and benzo[a]pyrene on Asian sea bass Lates calcarifer growth and expression of functional genes

Researchers exposed juvenile Asian sea bass to polyethylene microplastics and the carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene, both individually and in combination, over 56 days. They found that co-exposure caused more severe effects on growth and gene expression related to immune function and stress response than either contaminant alone. The study highlights that microplastics may worsen the toxic effects of chemical pollutants already present in marine environments.

2024 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics on atrazine in zebrafish: Exogenous toxicity and endogenous mechanism

Researchers found that combining polystyrene microplastics with the common herbicide atrazine was more toxic to zebrafish than either pollutant alone, causing greater liver and gut damage. The combination also degraded water quality by reducing oxygen levels and increasing harmful nitrogen compounds. This is important because microplastics and pesticides frequently co-exist in the environment, meaning their combined effects on aquatic life and food safety may be worse than studies of individual pollutants suggest.

2025 Environmental Pollution 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined neurotoxicity of aged microplastics and thiamethoxam in the early developmental stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

This study found that aged (weathered) microplastics combined with the insecticide thiamethoxam caused worse neurological damage to zebrafish larvae than either pollutant alone. The combined exposure reduced heart rate and movement, disrupted antioxidant defenses, and altered neurotransmitter levels in ways that were synergistic rather than simply additive. This is relevant to human health because both microplastics and pesticides are common in the environment, and their combined effects may pose greater risks than either one individually.

2024 Environmental Pollution 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicity of co-exposure of microplastics and lead in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Researchers exposed African catfish to lead, microplastics, and a combination of both for 15 days and found that the combined exposure was more harmful than either pollutant alone. The mixture caused the greatest damage to blood cells, triggered stronger inflammatory responses, and disrupted the fish's antioxidant defenses. Since microplastics can carry heavy metals like lead on their surfaces, this study shows how microplastics may amplify the toxic effects of other pollutants in freshwater fish that people eat.

2023 Frontiers in Veterinary Science 42 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined exposure of emamectin benzoate and microplastics induces tight junction disorder, immune disorder and inflammation in carp midgut via lysosome/ROS/ferroptosis pathway

This study found that when carp were exposed to both the pesticide emamectin benzoate and microplastics together, the damage to their gut lining, immune system, and inflammation levels was significantly worse than exposure to either pollutant alone. The findings suggest that microplastics may amplify the harmful effects of pesticides in aquatic food sources, which could have implications for human health through seafood consumption.

2024 Water Research 90 citations
Article Tier 2

Synergetic effects of polyethylene microplastic and abamectin pesticides on the eyes of zebrafish larvae and adults through activation of apoptosis signaling pathways

Researchers exposed zebrafish to polyethylene microplastics and the pesticide abamectin, both individually and in combination, and found that the mixture caused significantly worse eye damage and lower survival rates than either pollutant alone. The combined exposure triggered higher levels of oxidative stress and activated cell death pathways in eye tissues. The study reveals that microplastics and pesticides can interact to produce amplified toxic effects on aquatic organisms, particularly affecting their vision.

2023 Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined toxic effects of polyethylene microplastics and lambda-cyhalothrin on gut of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers found that polyethylene microplastics can adsorb the pesticide lambda-cyhalothrin from water and then release it in the guts of zebrafish, worsening its toxic effects. Fish exposed to both microplastics and the pesticide showed greater oxidative stress, immune disruption, and gut microbiome changes than those exposed to the pesticide alone. This demonstrates how microplastics can act as carriers that amplify the toxicity of other environmental pollutants in aquatic organisms consumed by humans.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 21 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
Article Tier 2

Co-exposure to microplastics and bisphenol A increases viral susceptibility in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) via oxidative stress

Researchers found that juvenile fish exposed to both microplastics and BPA (a chemical found in plastics) together became more susceptible to viral infection, even though neither pollutant alone had that effect. The combination shut down the fish's antioxidant defenses and caused liver cell death, weakening their immune system. This study is important because it shows that common pollutants can interact in unexpected ways, and real-world exposure to multiple contaminants may be more dangerous than lab tests of single substances suggest.

2025 Advanced Biotechnology 5 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Effects of microplastics on the toxicity of co-existing pollutants to fish: A meta-analysis

Meta-analysis of 1,380 biological endpoints from 55 studies found that microplastics in co-existing pollutant solutions significantly increased toxicity to fish beyond what the pollutants caused alone, particularly elevating immune system damage, metabolic disruption, and oxidative stress. The effect depended on fish life stage and microplastic size, but not on pollutant or polymer type.

2023 Water Research 81 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Microplastics on Gene Expression, Muscular Performance, and Immunological Responses in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): Seasonal and Habitat Variations

Researchers found microplastics in both the gut and muscle tissue of Nile tilapia fish from two sites along the Nile River in Egypt, with contamination levels varying by season and location. The microplastics activated genes linked to muscle wasting, cell death, and inflammation while suppressing growth-related genes, with the worst effects seen during summer months. Since tilapia is a widely consumed fish, these findings raise concerns about microplastic-related damage being passed to humans through the food supply.

2025 Marine Biotechnology 5 citations