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Review
. 2023 Jun 26:14:1217666.
doi: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1217666. eCollection 2023.

Effects of microplastics, pesticides and nano-materials on fish health, oxidative stress and antioxidant defense mechanism

Udayadharshini Subaramaniyam  1 , Rethi Saliya Allimuthu  1 , Shanu Vappu  1 , Divya Ramalingam  1 , Ranjini Balan  1 , Biswaranjan Paital  2 , Niranjan Panda  3 , Prasana Kumar Rath  4 , Nirmaladevi Ramalingam  1 , Dipak Kumar Sahoo  5
Affiliations
Review

Effects of microplastics, pesticides and nano-materials on fish health, oxidative stress and antioxidant defense mechanism

Udayadharshini Subaramaniyam et al. Front Physiol. .

Abstract

Microplastics and pesticides are emerging contaminants in the marine biota, which cause many harmful effects on aquatic organisms, especially on fish. Fish is a staple and affordable food source, rich in animal protein, along with various vitamins, essential amino acids, and minerals. Exposure of fish to microplastics, pesticides, and various nanoparticles generates ROS and induces oxidative stress, inflammation, immunotoxicity, genotoxicity, and DNA damage and alters gut microbiota, thus reducing the growth and quality of fish. Changes in fish behavioral patterns, swimming, and feeding habits were also observed under exposures to the above contaminants. These contaminants also affect the Nrf-2, JNK, ERK, NF-κB, and MAPK signaling pathways. And Nrf2-KEAP1 signalling modulates redox status marinating enzymes in fish. Effects of pesticides, microplastics, and nanoparticles found to modulate many antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione system. So, to protect fish health from stress, the contribution of nano-technology or nano-formulations was researched. A decrease in fish nutritional quality and population significantly impacts on the human diet, influencing traditions and economics worldwide. On the other hand, traces of microplastics and pesticides in the habitat water can enter humans by consuming contaminated fish which may result in serious health hazards. This review summarizes the oxidative stress caused due to microplastics, pesticides and nano-particle contamination or exposure in fish habitat water and their impact on human health. As a rescue mechanism, the use of nano-technology in the management of fish health and disease was discussed.

Keywords: fish oxidative stress; microplastics; nano particles; nano-therapeutics; pesticides; signaling pathways; water contamination.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Effects of microplastics and pesticides on fish.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Oxygen acts as the precursor for the generation of ROS. Superoxide radical (O2˙─) is produced with the first electron reduction of oxygen. The produced O2˙─ is converted into H2O2 by the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD), H2O2 or hydroperoxides are neutralized by the enzyme catalase (CAT) or glutathione peroxidase (GPx), respectively. GPx uses one molecule of the reduced glutathione (GSH) by the process, and the produced oxidised glutathione (GSSH) gets back to GSH by the enzyme glutathione reductase (GR). GR uses one molecule of NADPH in the process and NADP+ produced by the process is reduced back to NADPH by the enzyme Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD). The enzyme glutathione-S-transferase (GST) also neutralizes xenobiotics with the help of GSH. Small antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, vitamins A, E, etc., can directly neutralize ROS non-specifically (modified after Paital, 2018b).
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Microplastics in fish health.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Pathways affected in fish due to microplastic exposure.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Pesticides in fish health.
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
Pathways affected in fish due to pesticide exposure.
FIGURE 7
FIGURE 7
Control measures for contaminants entering the ocean.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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