Cited by 766Microplastics and Plastic PollutionEnvironmental Toxicology and EcotoxicologyMercury impact and mitigation studies

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Microplastics cause neurotoxicity, oxidative damage and energy-related changes and interact with the bioaccumulation of mercury in the European seabass, Dicentrarchus labrax (Linnaeus, 1758)

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Barboza, Luís Gabriel Antão, Vieira, Luís Russo, Branco, Vasco, Figueiredo, Neusa, Carvalho, Felix, Carvalho, Cristina, Guilhermino, Lúcia·2018·Aquatic Toxicology

DOI 10.1016/j.aquatox.2017.12.008

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Abstract

Microplastics pollution is a global paradigm that raises concern in relation to environmental and human health. This study investigated toxic effects of microplastics and mercury in the European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), a marine fish widely used as food for humans. A short-term (96 h) laboratory bioassay was done by exposing juvenile fish to microplastics (0.26 and 0.69 mg/L), mercury (0.010 and 0.016 mg/L) and binary mixtures of the two substances using the same concentrations, through test media. Microplastics alone and mercury alone caused neurotoxicity through acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition, increased lipid oxidation (LPO) in brain and muscle, and changed the activities of the energy-related enzymes lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH). All the mixtures caused significant inhibition of brain AChE activity (64-76%), and significant increase of LPO levels in brain (2.9-3.4 fold) and muscle (2.2-2.9 fold) but not in a concentration-dependent manner; mixtures containing low and high concentrations of microplastics caused different effects on IDH and LDH activity. Mercury was found to accumulate in the brain and muscle, with bioaccumulation factors of 4-7 and 25-40, respectively. Moreover, in the analysis of mercury concentrations in both tissues, a significant interaction between mercury and microplastics was found. The decay of mercury in the water increased with microplastics concentration, and was higher in the presence of fish than in their absence. Overall, these results indicate that: microplastics influence the bioaccumulation of mercury by D. labrax juveniles; microplastics, mercury and their mixtures (ppb range concentrations) cause neurotoxicity, oxidative stress and damage, and changes in the activities of energy-related enzymes in juveniles of this species; mixtures with the lowest and highest concentrations of their components induced different effects on some biomarkers. These findings and other published in the literature raise concern regarding high level predators and humans consuming fish being exposed to microplastics and heavy metals, and highlight the need of more research on the topic.

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Săvucă, A., Curpăn, A.-Ș., Hrițcu, L. D., Proca, T. M. B., Balmuș, I.-M., Lungu, P. F., Jijie, R., Nicoară, M., Ciobica, A. S., Solcan, G., et al. (2024) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms25158331 · Cited by 35
“Multiple studies have shown that MPs, alone or in combination with heavy metals, could exhibit detrimental effects on the neurological functions of fish, such as acetylcholinesterase activity inhibition [60,61] or neurotransmitter activity alterations [28,62–64].”
Background
Microplastics at an environmentally relevant dose enhance mercury toxicity in a marine copepod under multigenerational exposure: Multi-omics perspective
Bai, Z., He, Y., Hu, G.-S., Cheng, L., & Wang, M. (2024) · Journal of Hazardous Materials · doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135529 · Cited by 31
Impacts of microplastic accumulation in aquatic environment: Physiological, eco-toxicological, immunological, and neurotoxic effects
Rashid, E., Hussain, S. M., Ali, S., Munir, M., Ghafoor, A., Yılmaz, E., Alshehri, M. A., Riaz, D., Naeem, A., & Naeem, E. (2024) · Aquatic Toxicology · doi:10.1016/j.aquatox.2024.107232 · Cited by 33
Toxicity assessment of bioplastics on brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana) and cell lines
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Microplastics in the Marine Environment
López, A. D. F., Colombo, C. V., De-la-Torre, G. E., & Fernández-Severini, M. D. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-97-6461-7_7 · Cited by 30
Microplastic Pollution in Waters and its Impact on Health and Environment in Indonesia: A Review
Sarinah Basri, K., Basri, K. I., Syaputra, E. M., & Handayani, S. (2021) · Journal of Public Health for Tropical and Coastal Region · doi:10.14710/jphtcr.v4i2.10809 · Cited by 30
“fish are widely used as food for human consumption.(76) Therefore, many researchers have focused their studies on microplastics in fish, as can be seen in Table 2.”
Background
Ocean acidification induced changes in Ulva fasciata biochemistry may improve Dicentrarchus labrax aquaculture via enhanced antimicrobial activity
El‐Sayed, H. S., Elshobary, M. E., Barakat, K. M., Khairy, H. M., El‐Sheikh, M. A., Czaja, R. E., Allam, B., & Senousy, H. H. (2022) · Aquaculture · doi:10.1016/j.aquaculture.2022.738474 · Cited by 30
Countering microplastics pollution with photocatalysis: Challenge and prospects
Xu, R., Cui, L., & Kang, S. (2023) · Progress in Natural Science Materials International · doi:10.1016/j.pnsc.2023.08.006 · Cited by 30
Uptake of Nanoplastic particles by zebrafish embryos triggers the macrophage response at early developmental stage
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Can microplastics in offshore waters reflect plastic emissions from coastal regions?
Ding, Y., Zou, X., Yuan, F., Chen, H., Wang, C., Fan, Q., Fu, G., & Yu, W. (2022) · Chemosphere · doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136397 · Cited by 29
The time-dependent variations of zebrafish intestine and gill after polyethylene microplastics exposure
Xue, Y., Feng, L., Xu, Z., Zhao, F., Wen, X.-L., Jin, T., & Sun, Z. (2021) · Ecotoxicology · doi:10.1007/s10646-021-02469-4 · Cited by 29
Microplastics Risk into a Three-Link Food Chain Inside European Hake
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“So, based on this and on the few studies that have assessed the presence of MPs in the gills, liver, and digestive tract at the same time [29,34], we expected particles in gills to have a composition of MPs similar to those present in water since they are directly exposed to water pollution, while particles into the g…”
BackgroundInfluential
Identification and characterisation of microplastics released from plastic-coated paper cups using micro-Raman spectroscopy
Zhang, T., Hu, J.-L., Duan, Y., Chen, S., Li, D., Dong, B., Mo, M.-Z., Wang, J., Zheng, J., Zhong, H., et al. (2023) · Food Control · doi:10.1016/j.foodcont.2023.109901 · Cited by 31
Plastics and their derivatives are impacting animal ecophysiology: A review
Multisanti, C. R., Ferrara, S., Piccione, G. G., & Faggio, C. (2025) · Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.cbpc.2025.110149 · Cited by 28
Cellular disturbance and thermal stress response in mussels exposed to synthetic and natural microfibers
Pittura, L., Nardi, A., Cocca, M., Falco, F. D., d’Errico, G., Mazzoli, C., Mongera, F., Benedetti, M., Gorbi, S., Avella, M., et al. (2022) · Frontiers in Marine Science · doi:10.3389/fmars.2022.981365 · Cited by 30
“Neurotoxic effects of microplastics have been reported as AChE inhibition (Ribeiro et a., 2017; Barboza et al., 2018; Prüst et al., 2020; Missawi et al., 2021), but is now also known that this enzyme plays a fundamental role in regulating immune function by preventing phagocytosis block caused by ACh accumulation (Liu…”
Background
Surface characteristics and biotoxicity of airborne microplastics
Yuan, Z. H., & Xu, X. (2022) · Comprehensive analytical chemistry · doi:10.1016/bs.coac.2022.07.006 · Cited by 35
Accumulation of microplastics in fugu (Takifugu bimaculatus): A comparative study between fishing grounds and aquafarms
Song, K., Du, W., Ma, X., Chen, Y., Sun, Y., Zhang, T., Huang, W., & Feng, Z. (2022) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114200 · Cited by 29
Role of Microplastics in Chronic Rhinosinusitis Without Nasal Polyps
Taş, B. M., Tuna, A., Kankılıç, G. B., Koçak, F. M., Şencan, Z., Cömert, E., & Muluk, N. B. (2023) · The Laryngoscope · doi:10.1002/lary.30926 · Cited by 28
Impact of microplastics and nanoplastics on human health: Mechanistic insights and exposure pathways
Rehman, M. F. U., Khan, M. M., & Khan, P. D. M. M. (2025) · Toxicology Letters · doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2025.111769 · Cited by 31
The distribution and risk of mercury in Shenzhen mangroves, representative urban mangroves affected by human activities in China
Shi, C., Yu, L., Chai, M., Niu, Z., & Li, R. (2020) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110866 · Cited by 27
Characterization of plastics and their ecotoxicological effects in the Lambro River (N. Italy)
Magni, S., Nigro, L., Torre, C. D., & Binelli, A. (2021) · Journal of Hazardous Materials · doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125204 · Cited by 27
Analytical Chemistry of Plastic Debris: Sampling, Methods, and Instrumentation
Hale, R. C., Seeley, M. E., King, A. E., & Yu, L. (2021) · Environmental contamination remediation and management · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-78627-4_2 · Cited by 29
Exposure to petroleum-derived and biopolymer microplastics affect fast start escape performance and aerobic metabolism in a marine fish
Hawke, A., Trujillo, J. E., Oey, I., Giteru, S. G., & Allan, B. J. M. (2023) · The Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167423 · Cited by 26
Treatment-level impacts of microplastic exposure may be confounded by variation in individual-level responses in juvenile fish
Nanninga, G. B., Pertzelan, A., Kiflawi, M., Holzman, R., Plakolm, I., & Manica, A. (2021) · Journal of Hazardous Materials · doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126059 · Cited by 26
Combined effects of microplastics and benz[a]anthracene on cardiotoxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae: Size matters
Sim, Y., Cho, H.-J., Lee, J.-S., Lee, W. S., Kim, H., & Jeong, J. (2023) · Chemosphere · doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138723 · Cited by 28
Immunotoxicological effects of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid on European seabass are reduced by polyethylene microplastics
Espinosa‐Ruíz, C., González-Fernández, C., Cormier, B., Keiter, S. H., Vieira, L. R., Guilhermino, L. M., Clérandeau, C., Cachot, J., Esteban, M. Á., & Cuesta, A. (2023) · Fish & Shellfish Immunology · doi:10.1016/j.fsi.2023.108793 · Cited by 26
Transcriptome analysis of response mechanism to Microcystin-LR and microplastics stress in Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea)
Zhang, J., Jie, W., Cheng, G., Gu, Z., & Liu, X. (2023) · Fish & Shellfish Immunology · doi:10.1016/j.fsi.2023.108875 · Cited by 26
Mechanistic insight of neurodegeneration due to micro/nano-plastic-induced gut dysbiosis
Ghosh, A., & Gorain, B. (2024) · Archives of Toxicology · doi:10.1007/s00204-024-03875-3 · Cited by 27
“…researchers theorize that only 0.3% of microparticles are projected to undergo absorption, where a small proportion (0.1%), comprising particles (> 10 µm), is believed to access both organs and cell membranes, effectively crossing the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and placenta (Barboza et al. 2018a).”
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Microplastic occurrence and fate in the South African environment: a review
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“…et al. 2020) extended duration of MPs exposure can cause oxidative stress and cytotoxicity, alteration of metabolism balance, translocation of MPs to distant tissue, disruption of immune function, and as well as a vector of environmental contaminants such as toxic chemicals (Barboza et al. 2018).”
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Authors: Barboza, L. G. A., Vieira, L. R., Branco, V., Figueiredo, N., Carvalho, F., Carvalho, C., & Guilhermino, L.
Affiliations: Ministry of Education (BR)
Universidade do Porto (PT)
University of Lisbon (PT)
Corresponding author: Barboza, Luís Gabriel Antão
ORCID: Barboza, Luís Gabriel Antão
Vieira, Luís Russo
Branco, Vasco
Figueiredo, Neusa
Carvalho, Cristina
Guilhermino, Lúcia
Venue: Aquatic Toxicology
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 2018-02
Volume: 195
Pages: 49-57
ISSN: 0166-445X (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2017.12.008
OpenAlex: W2779948902
Cited by: 766
References: 74
Citations by year: 2026: 72 · 2025: 97 · 2024: 108 · 2023: 109 · 2022: 129 · 2021: 104 · 2020: 85 · 2019: 44 · 2018: 18
FWCI: 18.10
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: hybrid
doi.org
Licence: cc-by-nc-nd
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ (vor)
Locations: Aquatic Toxicology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
European Regional Development Fund
Topics: Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Mercury impact and mitigation studies
Keywords: microplastics, mercury, Dicentrarchus labrax, neurotoxicity, acetylcholinesterase inhibition, lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress, energy metabolism enzymes, lactate dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, bioaccumulation, mercury bioaccumulation, heavy metals, marine fish
MeSH terms: Animals, Bass, Biological Assay, Brain, Energy Metabolism, Environmental Monitoring, Humans, Mercury, Plastics, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Biomarkers, Oxidative Stress

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Microplastics cause neurotoxicity, oxidative damage and energy-related changes and interact with the bioaccumulation of mercury in the European seabass, Dicentrarchus labrax (Linnaeus, 1758)

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