Combined toxicity of nanoplastics and arsenic to zebrafish (Danio rerio)
LYU Min1, LI Guo-xin1, LI Qing-song1, QIU Chen-chen1, ZHANG Dan-dan2
1. The Key Laboratory of Water Resources Utilization and Protection of Xiamen, College of Environmental Science and Technology, Xiamen University of Technology, Xiamen 361024, China; 2. Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
Abstract：In this study, the zebrafish was exposed to 5mg/L polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs), 1, 10 and 100μg/L of arsenic (As) as single and combined pollutants for 7 days by using semi-static waterborne exposure experiment. The research assessed As accumulation in zebrafish liver, intestine, gill and muscle tissues under the influence of PS-NPs, PS-NPs' fluorescence intensity, and stress responses in liver and gill tissues. Results revealed PS-NPs' enrichment in liver and gill tissues, enhancing As accumulation across various zebrafish tissues. Under the combined pollution of 5mg/L PS-NPs and 100 μg/L As, As content in liver, gill, intestine and muscle tissues increased by 35.18%, 147.33%, 163.12% and 66.96%, respectively, compared to single As exposure. Co-exposure to PS-NPs and As increased GST and GPx activities, reducing oxidative stress in liver tissues. However, in gill tissues, GSH content and GST activity decreased, while MDA content increased, indicating increased oxidative stress. Exposure to a high concentration (100μg/L) of As combined with PS-NPs significantly decreased AChE activity in gills. Mixed exposure reduced the expressions of gpx, Mn-sod, Cu/Zn-sod and ache genes in liver and gill tissues compared to single As exposure. PS-NPs were found to inhibit the expression of genes associated with As-induced oxidative stress and neurotoxicity in zebrafish.
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