Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Effects of biodegradable and conventional microplastics on the intestine, intestinal community composition, and metabolic levels in tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)

Researchers exposed tilapia fish to both biodegradable (PLA) and conventional (PVC) microplastics for 14 days and compared the effects on their intestines and gut bacteria. Both types of microplastics caused intestinal inflammation and disrupted the gut microbial community, though the specific effects differed between the two plastic types. The study suggests that biodegradable microplastics may not be substantially safer for aquatic life than conventional ones.

2023 Aquatic Toxicology 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparative toxicity of virgin and biodegraded LLDPE microplastics on growth, behavior, antioxidant, and hematological health of Catla catla fish

Researchers compared the toxicity of virgin versus bacterially degraded polyethylene microplastics on freshwater fish, finding that both types caused abnormal behaviors and disrupted blood parameters in a dose-dependent manner. However, biodegraded microplastics produced less severe effects on growth, survival, and antioxidant enzyme activity, suggesting that microbial degradation may reduce the ecological risk posed by microplastic pollution.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Differential effects of foodborne and waterborne micro(nano)plastics exposure on fish liver metabolism and gut microbiota community.

Nile tilapia exposed to equivalent doses of micro(nano)plastics via food versus water showed distinct liver gene expression profiles, indicating that exposure route critically shapes the metabolic and toxicological response. Foodborne MNP exposure produced more pronounced effects on lipid metabolism and inflammation pathways.

2025 Journal of hazardous materials
Article Tier 2

Microplastics accumulation in gut and revealing their impacts on nutritional quality and health of freshwater carp, Catla catla

Researchers fed common carp (Catla catla) diets containing increasing concentrations of polylactic acid microplastics (PLA-MPs) — a type of biodegradable plastic — for 90 days, finding that at higher levels the fish experienced stunted growth, reduced nutrient absorption, altered blood cell counts, and intestinal tissue damage. The study demonstrates that even "biodegradable" microplastics can accumulate in fish and significantly harm their health.

2024 Aquaculture Reports 9 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

Impacts of conventional and biodegradable microplastics on juvenile Lates calcarifer: Bioaccumulation, antioxidant response, microbiome, and proteome alteration

Researchers found that both conventional polyethylene and biodegradable microplastics from plastic bags caused bioaccumulation, oxidative stress, microbiome disruption, and proteome alterations in juvenile barramundi, indicating that biodegradable plastics are not necessarily safer for marine organisms.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 35 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

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

Aged biodegradable and non-biodegradable microplastics alter metolachlor toxicity in the gut and liver of crucian carp

Researchers compared how aged microplastics from conventional polyethylene and biodegradable polylactic acid films interact with the pesticide metolachlor in crucian carp. They found that polyethylene microplastics increased pesticide accumulation in organs, while polylactic acid particles produced more complex and sometimes more severe toxic effects, likely due to their own degradation products. The study underscores that biodegradable agricultural films may not be inherently safer than conventional plastics when it comes to combined pesticide-microplastic toxicity in aquatic environments.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Increased transfer of trace metals and Vibrio sp. from biodegradable microplastics to catfish Clarias gariepinus

Researchers compared the transfer of trace metals and Vibrio bacteria from conventional and biodegradable microplastics to catfish. They found that biodegradable microplastics actually transferred more metals and pathogens to the fish than conventional plastics. The study suggests that biodegradable alternatives may not be safer for aquatic organisms and could potentially increase contaminant exposure through ingestion.

2022 Environmental Pollution 48 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

Potential toxic effects of polylactic acid microplastics accumulation on multiple tissue structures and hematology in carp

Researchers exposed common carp to polylactic acid microplastics over an extended period and assessed effects on multiple tissue types and blood parameters. PLA-MP accumulation caused histological damage in gills, liver, and intestine, and altered hematological markers, demonstrating that biodegradable plastics are not toxicologically inert to fish.

2025 Environmental Pollution
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

Toxicity comparison of polylactic acid and polyethylene microplastics co-exposed with methylmercury on Daphnia magna

Researchers compared the toxicity of biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics with conventional polyethylene microplastics, both alone and in combination with methylmercury, on water fleas. The biodegradable microplastics caused greater harm, significantly reducing survival and reproduction while also increasing mercury accumulation in the organisms. The findings challenge the assumption that biodegradable plastics are always safer for the environment, suggesting they may actually enhance the toxicity of co-occurring pollutants.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 7 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
Article Tier 2

Toxicity comparison of multiple biodegradable and conventional microplastics on earthworms: Ingestion, tissue damage, oxidative stress, and transcriptional responses

This study compared the toxicity of four biodegradable microplastics and conventional polyethylene microplastics on earthworms across multiple biological endpoints. Researchers found that biodegradable microplastics caused tissue damage, oxidative stress, and altered gene expression at levels comparable to or sometimes exceeding conventional plastics, challenging the assumption that biodegradable alternatives are inherently safer for soil organisms.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 1 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

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

Investigating the toxicity of polylactic acid microplastics on the health and physiology of freshwater fish, Cirrhinus mrigala

Researchers fed freshwater fish polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics, often considered a more eco-friendly plastic alternative, for 90 days at various concentrations. They found that PLA microplastics negatively affected the fish's growth, nutrient digestibility, blood chemistry, and caused tissue damage to the liver and intestines. The findings suggest that even biodegradable plastics can be harmful to aquatic organisms when ingested over time.

2024 Ecotoxicology 6 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

A review on fate and ecotoxicity of biodegradable microplastics in aquatic system: Are biodegradable plastics truly safe for the environment?

This review examines whether biodegradable plastics are truly safe for aquatic environments, finding that they can break down into microplastics faster than conventional plastics and cause comparable or even greater harm to algae, invertebrates, and fish. The findings suggest that switching to biodegradable plastics alone will not solve the microplastic pollution problem, and these particles can still enter the human food chain through contaminated seafood.

2024 Environmental Pollution 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingestion and the toxicological effects of virgin polyethylene (PE) and PVC microplastics in commercial freshwater fish, Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Researchers exposed Nile tilapia to virgin polyethylene and PVC microplastics for 21 days, finding that both types caused behavioral changes and mortality, with PVC producing greater toxicity, reduced growth rates, and histological damage to gut and liver tissue.

2025
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of polystyrene and polyethylene microplastics on the zebrafish cardiovascular system and their differential mechanisms

Researchers compared the cardiovascular toxicity of polystyrene and polyethylene microplastics in zebrafish larvae, examining effects on heart development, oxidative stress, and cell death. Both types of microplastics caused cardiovascular damage, but they operated through different molecular mechanisms, with polystyrene primarily triggering oxidative stress while polyethylene more strongly induced cell death pathways. The findings indicate that the chemical composition of microplastics matters significantly when assessing their health effects.

2025 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparative evaluation of biodegradable microplastic presence in edible and non-edible tissues of cage-cultured and wild fishes of Periyar River

Researchers compared biodegradable microplastic presence in edible and non-edible tissues of wild and cage-cultured fish from the Periyar River in India. Biodegradable plastic particles were detected across species and tissue types including muscle, indicating that these supposedly environmentally friendly alternatives persist long enough to contaminate food fish.

2025 Environmental Pollution