Stressful Effects of Individual and Combined Exposure to Low-Concentration Polylactic Acid Microplastics and Chromium on Marine Medaka Larvae (Oryzias melastigma)

Abstract

Microplastics and heavy metal pollution frequently co-occur in the marine environment, raising concerns about their potentially harmful impacts on marine fish. This study undertook a comprehensive evaluation of the individual and combined stress effects of polylactide microplastics (PLA-MPs) and chromium (Cr) on marine medaka larvae. Following a 14-day exposure to PLA-MPs (100 μg/L) and Cr (50 μg/L), both individually and in combination, significant increases in heart rate and body length were observed. Notably, the combined exposure to PLA-MPs and Cr caused marked histopathological alterations, including shedding, atrophy, and lysis of the intestinal tissues. Furthermore, both individual and combined exposure induced oxidative stress in fish larvae, leading to changes in various enzyme activity indices. Individual exposure to either PLA-MPs or Cr led to anxious behavior in the larvae, whereas combined exposure not only caused anxious behavior but also altered swimming patterns. These findings suggest that combined exposure to PLA-MPs and Cr can exacerbate the toxic effects on marine medaka larvae.