Polystyrene nanoplastics enhance the toxicological effects of DDE in zebrafish larvae

Anthropogenic releases of plastics, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and heavy metals can impact the environment, including aquatic ecosystems. Nanoplastics (NPs) have recently emerged as pervasive environmental pollutants that affect living organisms. NPs have been shown to cause stress in animals, as well as the ability to adsorb POPs. Among POPs, DDT and its metabolites are ubiquitous pollutants of the environment due to its long persistence. DDE is the primary metabolite of DDT and is still found in fish feed even after restricting its use after 1972. Our study aimed to look at the individual and combined toxicity of NPs (50 mg/L) and DDE (100 ug/L) in zebrafish larvae. In a nutshell, we found an enhanced toxicological impact of DDE when combined with NPs.