Combined effects of microplastics and benz[a]anthracene on cardiotoxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae: Size matters

The size of microplastics (MPs) plays an important role in combined toxic effects including synergistic or antagonistic effects. However, the influence of the size of MPs on the combined toxicity of contaminants remains unclear. In this study, we employed a zebrafish model to investigate the effects of MP size on the combined toxicity of benz[a]anthracene (BaA), a representative polyaromatic hydrocarbon, using three different sizes of polystyrene MPs (PSMPs) (0.2, 1.0, and 10 μm). Treatment of all groups did not result in any mortality of the zebrafish larvae. However, small-sized PSMPs (0.2 μm) enhanced the toxic effect of BaA in larvae such as cardiac defect and disruption of vessel formation. Medium-sized PSMPs (1.0 μm) were boundary in terms of the combined toxic effect; however, large-sized PSMPs (10 μm) alleviated the cardiotoxicity of BaA, including cardiac defect, ROS levels, and cell death. The combined effects showed a correlation with the body burden of MPs and BaA in larvae according to particle size (in the order of 0.2 μm > 1.0 μm > 10 μm). The synergistic effects occurred likely because the small PSMPs facilitated the body burden of BaA, induced excessive ROS by Ahr-mediated activity, and caused cell death in the heart, resulting in increased heart defects in the larvae. In contrast, large PSMPs abated the combined toxic effect through decreased body burden, whereas medium PSMPs form a boundary in combined effects. Therefore, the combined toxic effects of MPs are dependent on their size, which plays an important role in the transport and accumulation of environmental pollutants.