Effects of pristine or contaminated polyethylene microplastics on zebrafish development

Formulation Controls the Potential Neuromuscular Toxicity of Polyethylene Photoproducts in Developing Zebrafish

“…Thus, their effects on the embryos were not assessed. Several studies have shown combinatorial toxic effects in zebrafish and other species coexposed to nanoplastics or microplastics and chemical contaminants. − TiO 2 nanoparticles can induce toxicity in zebrafish and other vertebrates and have shown combinatorial effects with naturally derived dissolved organic carbon such as humic acids. − Future work should consider the combinatorial toxicity of inorganic additives, plastic particles, and photoproduced leachates. Moreover, owing to the chemical complexity of these photoweathered plastic leachates, organism susceptibility to them is likely highly variable and requires investigation in other species.…”

Advances in the Utilization of Zebrafish for Assessing and Understanding the Mechanisms of Nano-/Microparticles Toxicity in Water

“…Exposure of zebrafish to MNPs in aqueous solution has adverse effects on the growth and reproduction of zebrafish: (I) It may cause damage to the chorionic membrane of zebrafish embryos or changes in water quality (such as hypoxia induction) [41], which may lead to premature hatching of embryos, and their inability to survive for a long time, resulting in an increase in the mortality of larvae [49]; (II) Zebrafish larvae were unable to survive for long in an aqueous solution containing 2 mg/mL MNPs, and their mortality rate increased to 32.4%; (III) Exposed larvae displayed edema of the yolk sac and pericardium, curvature of the spine, curvature of the tail, and a larger area of visual vesicles; (IV) When zebrafish embryos were exposed to 100 ppm of PET-NPs in aqueous solution, the survival rate decreased to 65%, while at 200 ppm the survival rate was almost zero [50]; (V) A previous study exposed adult zebrafish to PS-NPs for one month, and a large accumulation of PS-NPs, as well as an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) was observed in the gonads and liver of the zebrafish [51]. It was found that high concentrations of MNPs resulted in apoptosis of male zebrafish testis, as well as a significant reduction in basement-membrane thickness, resulting in oxidative stress to female zebrafish oocytes, leading to apoptosis [40], and affecting egg morphology and yolk area of zebrafish offspring, resulting in malformations [52]; (VI) Upon exposure to PE-MPs in water for 15 days, adult zebrafish accumulated a large amount of PE-MP in their bodies, causing DNA damage to red blood cells and nuclear abnormalities, which may lead to genetic damage. In addition, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) decreased, resulting in an imbalance in the redox state [53].…”

Toxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics: invisible killers of female fertility and offspring health

“…Additionally, MPs/NPs will induce pericardial edema and harm the integrity of the visual structure since they can reach heart, eyes, and other significant organs ( Zhang et al, 2020b ; Bojic et al, 2020 ; Sun et al, 2021 ; De Marco et al, 2022 ). Some studies also pointed out that MPs/NPs induced osteotoxicity which was inherited by offspring ( De Marco et al, 2022 ; Tarasco et al, 2022 ).…”

“…Likewise, the comprehensive toxicity of MPs/NPs not only cause parental reproductive dysfunction, but also onset more notable cross-generational consequences in progenies. Compared to individual exposures, it has been confirmed that the combined exposure of MPs/NPs with multiple types of organic pollutants poses a more severe threat to offspring development, especially in cases of pericardial cyst, skeletal abnormalities, and growth retardation ( Lu et al, 2022 ; Tarasco et al, 2022 ; Lin et al, 2023b ; Gao et al, 2023 ; Zhang et al, 2023 ). On the basis of the combination index, Lu et al also observed an antagonistic effect between MPs and sulfamethoxazol, while it only caused a slight reduction in the combined toxicity ( Lu et al, 2022 ).…”