Nanoplastics in the Environment and the Effects on the Zebrafish

Abstract

Plastic is one of the most used materials in the world, adopted in almost all activities of human life, but due to the high persistence and durability in the environment, it is causing pollution problems. Through different processes, small particles of polymers are emerging and the effects on the health are still unknown. The Danio rerio (zebrafish) is a model organism that serves as a reference for the assessment of the safety of Nanoplastics (NPs) and Microplastics (MPs). The effects on development, central nervous system, behavior and genetic regulation, are some of the evidences that are already available thanks to the studies developed in recent years. The potential exacerbation of toxicity by co-exposure of the NPs and MP with other contaminants has been demonstrated through several studies. Furthermore, the challenge that must be overcome is the lack of uniformity in the analytical methodology that helps to generate conclusive and parallel results.