The influence of different polymer types of microplastics on adsorption, accumulation, and toxicity of triclosan in zebrafish

Although the combined effects of microplastics (MPs) and other organic pollutants have raised increasing attention, the impacts of polymer types on the biological effects (e.g., bioaccumulation and toxicity) of the mixtures are still unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of different polymer types of MPs including polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) on the adsorption, accumulation, and toxic effects of triclosan (TCS) in zebrafish. As a result, all three types of MPs could adsorb TCS and PP-MPs has the highest adsorption capacity for TCS (1.18 mg/g). Compared with the TCS alone, MPs changed the distribution of TCS in tissues and increased the accumulation of TCS in the liver and gut following the order of TCS + PP > TCS + PVC > TCS + PE. Compared with individual TCS and PP-MPs, after co-exposed for 28 days, TCS + PP significantly aggravated oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in the liver as well as enhanced neurotoxicity in the brain. Moreover, TCS + PP disturbed the metabolism in the liver and MPs contributed more to the metabolic disorders. The upregulated lipid metabolites (e.g., sphingosine and L-palmitoylcarnitine) and downregulated carbohydrate metabolites (e.g., sucrose) could be potential targets for future risk assessment of MPs combined with other pollutants.

Automated summary

Different types of microplastics can affect the adsorption, accumulation, and toxicity of triclosan in zebrafish, with polypropylene having the highest adsorption capacity. Co-exposure to triclosan and polypropylene microplastics significantly increased oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in the liver, as well as enhanced neurotoxicity in the brain. Microplastics contributed more to metabolic disorders in the liver compared to triclosan alone.