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Cited by 823Microplastics and Plastic PollutionEnvironmental Toxicology and EcotoxicologyPharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 34 of the 34 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Brain damage and behavioural disorders in fish induced by plastic nanoparticles delivered through the food chain

Open access
Mattsson, Karin, Johnson, Elyse V., Malmendal, Anders, Linse, Sara, Hansson, Lars-Anders, Cedervall, Tommy·2017·Scientific Reports
DOI 10.1038/s41598-017-10813-0PMC PMC5597631
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Abstract

The tremendous increases in production of plastic materials has led to an accumulation of plastic pollution worldwide. Many studies have addressed the physical effects of large-sized plastics on organisms, whereas few have focused on plastic nanoparticles, despite their distinct chemical, physical and mechanical properties. Hence our understanding of their effects on ecosystem function, behaviour and metabolism of organisms remains elusive. Here we demonstrate that plastic nanoparticles reduce survival of aquatic zooplankton and penetrate the blood-to-brain barrier in fish and cause behavioural disorders. Hence, for the first time, we uncover direct interactions between plastic nanoparticles and brain tissue, which is the likely mechanism behind the observed behavioural disorders in the top consumer. In a broader perspective, our findings demonstrate that plastic nanoparticles are transferred up through a food chain, enter the brain of the top consumer and affect its behaviour, thereby severely disrupting the function of natural ecosystems.

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Crossref · 10.1038/s41598-017-10813-0

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Figure 1 Mortality after exposure. Number of alive Daphnia magna 0–24 h after exposure to different concentrations (0.025–0.150 g/L) of 52 nm amino modified polystyrene nanoparticles. The figure shows that Daphnia mortality rates depend on the concentration of the particles, n = 10 for each concentration.
Figure 1 Mortality after exposure. Number of alive Daphnia magna 0–24 h after exposure to different concentrations (0.025–0.150 g/L) of 52 nm amino modified polystyrene nanoparticles. The figure shows that Daphnia mortality rates depend on the concentration of the particles, n = 10 for each concentration.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 2 Food chain. Food chain from algae-zooplankton-fish, nanoparticles (53 nm mass (dark blue), 53 nm surface area (light blue) and 180 nm (red)).
Figure 2 Food chain. Food chain from algae-zooplankton-fish, nanoparticles (53 nm mass (dark blue), 53 nm surface area (light blue) and 180 nm (red)).CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 3 Top consumer response. Fish exposed to amino modified polystyrene nanoparticles of different sizes delivered through a food chain of algae and zooplankton behave differently. (A) fish feeding time (s) after exposure to different sizes of nanoparticles, p < 0.030 with ANOVA post hoc between 53 nm and 180 nm, (B) swimming distance during feeding time, p < 0.018 with ANOVA post hoc between 53 nm and 180 nm, (C) fish exploration within each aquarium during the first 120 s of the feeding time (D) mean activity (px/s) during the first 120 s of the feeding time, p < 0.001 with ANOVA post hoc between all groups. Data are shown for control fish that were not exposed to nanoparticles (n = 6 aquaria), 180 nm nanoparticles (n = 6 aquaria), and 53 nm particles with the same mass concentration as 180 nm particles (n = 5 aquaria). All graphs show the mean ± SE. The graphs shown that fish fed with 53 nm nanoparticles had a longer feeding time, that they swam a longer distance to feed and that they explored less area of the aquaria, as well as that they had a lower activity compared to fish receiving 180 nm particles and control fish. Moreover, fish fed with 180 nm particles were the fastest feeders and had the highest activity.
Figure 3 Top consumer response. Fish exposed to amino modified polystyrene nanoparticles of different sizes delivered through a food chain of algae and zooplankton behave differently. (A) fish feeding time (s) after exposure to different sizes of nanoparticles, p < 0.030 with ANOVA post hoc between 53 nm and 180 nm, (B) swimming distance during feeding time, p < 0.018 with ANOVA post hoc between 53 nm and 180 nm, (C) fish exploration within each aquarium during the first 120 s of the feeding time (D) mean activity (px/s) during the first 120 s of the feeding time, p < 0.001 with ANOVA post hoc between all groups. Data are shown for control fish that were not exposed to nanoparticles (n = 6 aquaria), 180 nm nanoparticles (n = 6 aquaria), and 53 nm particles with the same mass concentration as 180 nm particles (n = 5 aquaria). All graphs show the mean ± SE. The graphs shown that fish fed with 53 nm nanoparticles had a longer feeding time, that they swam a longer distance to feed and that they explored less area of the aquaria, as well as that they had a lower activity compared to fish receiving 180 nm particles and control fish. Moreover, fish fed with 180 nm particles were the fastest feeders and had the highest activity.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 4 Brain effects. (A) Measured gyri size (px2) of fish brains after exposure to different sizes of polystyrene nanoparticles, including 53 nm (n = 7), 180 nm (n = 11) and control (n = 15) which was not exposed to any nanoparticles. (B) number of detected pixels corresponding to polystyrene particles in homogenized fish brain samples, (n = 3 for each treatment). Fish receiving 53 nm nanoparticles had significantly larger gyri size than the 180 nm group, p < 0.021 ANOVA with Turkey’s post hoc. Polystyrene was detected in all brains from fish exposed to nanoparticles, whereas no polystyrene was detected in the control group.
Figure 4 Brain effects. (A) Measured gyri size (px2) of fish brains after exposure to different sizes of polystyrene nanoparticles, including 53 nm (n = 7), 180 nm (n = 11) and control (n = 15) which was not exposed to any nanoparticles. (B) number of detected pixels corresponding to polystyrene particles in homogenized fish brain samples, (n = 3 for each treatment). Fish receiving 53 nm nanoparticles had significantly larger gyri size than the 180 nm group, p < 0.021 ANOVA with Turkey’s post hoc. Polystyrene was detected in all brains from fish exposed to nanoparticles, whereas no polystyrene was detected in the control group.CC BY · PubMed Central

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Metadata

Authors
Mattsson, K., Johnson, E. V., Malmendal, A., Linse, S., Hansson, L.-A., & Cedervall, T.
Affiliations
Lund University (SE)
Corresponding author
Mattsson, Karin
ORCID
Venue
Scientific Reports
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2017-09-13
Volume
7
Issue
1
Pages
11452-11452
ISSN
2045-2322 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1038/s41598-017-10813-0
PMC
PMC5597631
OpenAlex
W2752608807
Cited by
823
References
34
Citations by year
2026: 71 · 2025: 98 · 2024: 128 · 2023: 141 · 2022: 113 · 2021: 103 · 2020: 82 · 2019: 58 · 2018: 26 · 2017: 3
FWCI
20.84
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Scientific Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Lund University Publications (Lund University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Lunds Universitet
  • Vetenskapsrådet
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 › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
Keywords
nanoplastics, microplastics, fish behavior, brain damage, blood-brain barrier, zooplankton survival, trophic transfer, neurotoxicity, plastic pollution, aquatic ecosystems
MeSH terms
Animals, Brain Injuries, Environmental Pollution, Fish Diseases, Mortality, Plastics, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Food Chain, Nanoparticles

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