Impact of airborne total suspended particles (TSP) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5)‐induced developmental toxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos

Abstract Airborne total suspended particles (TSP) and particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) threaten global health and their potential impact on cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are extensively studied. Recent studies attest premature deaths, low birth weight, and congenital anomalies in the fetus of pregnant women exposed to air pollution. In this regard, only few studies have explored the effects of TSP and PM 2.5 on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular development. As both TSP and PM 2.5 differ in size and composition, this study is attempted to assess the variability in toxicity effects between TSP and PM 2.5 on the development of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems and the underlying mechanisms in a zebrafish model. To explore the potential toxic effects of TSP and PM 2.5 , zebrafish embryos/larvae were exposed to 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 μg/ml of TSP and PM 2.5 from 24 to 120 hpf (hours post‐fertilization). Both TSP and PM 2.5 exposure increased the rate of mortality, malformations, and oxidative stress, whereas locomotor behavior, heart rate, blood flow velocity, development of cardiovasculature and neurovasculature, and dopaminergic neurons were reduced. The expression of genes involved in endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), Wnt signaling, and central nervous system (CNS) development were altered in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. This study provides evidence for acute exposure to TSP and PM 2.5 ‐induced cardiovascular and neurodevelopmental toxicity, attributed to enhanced oxidative stress and aberrant gene expression. Comparatively, the effects of PM 2.5 were more pronounced than TSP.