Size- and polymer-dependent effects of polystyrene and polyethylene micro- and nanoplastics in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Perc, Valentina (author), Wepener, Victor (author), Dajčman, Urban (author), Hočevar, Matej (author), Drobne, Damjana (author), Novak, Sara (author)

Microplastics (MPs) have been extensively investigated, whereas nanoplastics (NPs) are increasingly recognized as emerging contaminants with potentially greater biological concern. To address the current lack of comparative data, we systematically evaluated the biological impacts of both particle size classes and polymer compositions. Zebrafish (Danio rerio), a well-established vertebrate model for toxicological assessment, was used to examine the behavioural and developmental effects of polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene (PE) MPs and NPs. We first performed the standard Fish Embryo Toxicity (FET) test where acute toxicity parameters were observed. Post-hatching (96–120 hpf), heart rate variability, oxygen consumption, and swimming behaviour were measured as indicators of physiological and behavioural responses to the test conditions. We confirmed that NPs induced adverse effects, including impaired hatching (PS NPs at ≥75 mg/L), increased mortality (PE NPs, ∼25% at 10 mg/L and complete mortality at 100 mg/L), and altered locomotor activity. Specifically, PS NPs reduced swimming distance and activity at higher concentrations (≥75 mg/L), while PE NPs impaired swimming performance across concentrations without consistently reducing activity time. In contrast, MPs primarily affected locomotor activity without inducing systemic developmental or physiological toxicity. These effects were associated with particle adhesion to embryonic and larval surfaces, supporting surface adhesion as a potential contributing or initiating interaction in NPs-induced toxicity.

• Language: English
• Keywords: Danio rerio, nanoplastics, microplastics, surface adhesion, locomotor behaviour, fish embryo toxicity test
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: 11 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 317, art. 120216
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-182385
• UDC: 597.2/.5
• ISSN on article: 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.120216
• COBISS.SI-ID: 277145603
• Publication date in RUL: 18.05.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety
• Shortened title: Ecotoxicol. environ. saf.
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1090-2414
• COBISS.SI-ID: 68356099

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: Danio rerio, površinska adhezija, lokomotorno vedenje