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Abstract
Plastic production has been rising consistently in the last 30 years and with it,
the presence of plastic particles in the environment. A decrease in size often increases
the bioavailability and reactivity of the particles. In this study the impact of polystyrene
(PS; 22 nm) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA; 32 nm) nanoparticles on zebrafish embryo-larval
stages was assessed by studying mortality, hatching, morphological features, and biochemical
endpoints (associated with neurotransmission, antioxidant status and oxidative damage,
and energy metabolism) after 96 h exposure, and swimming behavior after 120 h exposure.
Organisms exposed to PMMA nanoparticles exhibited higher mortality and pericardial
edema than those exposed to PS nanoparticles but displayed less effects on swimming
behavior. Biochemical endpoints were altered to a higher degree in organisms exposed
to PS nanoparticles (acetylcholinesterase, glutathione S-transferase and catalase
activities) but higher peroxidative damage was found after exposure to lower concentrations
of PMMA nanoparticles. Both types of nanoparticles affected energy metabolism with
higher levels of glycogen found in animals exposed to PS nanoparticles. The use of
integrated biomarker response index confirmed that PS nanoparticles had a higher impact
on biochemical endpoints of zebrafish.