| When Medicine Meets Microplastics: Dissecting the Environmental Toxicity of Ibuprofen and LDPE in Zebrafish Embryos |
| Paper ID : 1320-IGA |
| Authors |
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Alex Chelaru *1, Ramona Ciausu2, Mircea Nicoara2, Dorel Ureche3, Andrei Andronic3 11 Doctoral School of Geosciences, Faculty of Geography and Geology, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, Romania
2Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, „Vasile Alecsandri” University of Bacau, Romania 2Doctoral School of Geosciences, Faculty of Geography and Geology, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, Romania 3Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, „Vasile Alecsandri” University of Bacau, Romania |
| Abstract |
| Background and Aim: Pharmaceutical residues and microplastics are emerging contaminants in aquatic ecosystems. Ibuprofen (IBU), a widely used NSAID, and Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) microplastics (MPLs) are frequently found in surface waters. While their individual effects are documented, their combined impact during early development remains unclear. Materials and Methods: Healthy AB strain zebrafish embryos were obtained via natural spawning and screened under a stereomicroscope. Morphologically normal embryos were selected at 5 hpf and exposed in 24-well plates to E3 medium containing ibuprofen (1 mg/L), LDPE microplastics (1 mg/L), or both. Exposure lasted until 96 hpf, with daily media renewal. Conditions followed OECD guidelines, including a 14:10 light-dark cycle. At 96 hpf, behavioral analysis was performed using EthoVision XT, followed by imaging and measurement of biometric endpoints such as total length and interocular distance. Results: All the larvae exhibited increased activity during the dark phases, consistent with typical zebrafish behavior. However, the groups exposed to IBU alone and in combination with LDPE showed distinct behavioral alterations compared to the control and LDPE-only groups. Notably, larvae treated with IBU, and the mixture spent significantly more time near the edges of the wells, exhibited prolonged periods of immobility, and demonstrated increased swimming velocity. These behaviors suggest erratic movement and stress responses. Interestingly, LDPE MPLs alone did not induce significant behavioral deviations from the control group, suggesting relatively low acute toxicity under the tested conditions. The mixture did not mitigate the effects of IBU, indicating that the presence of plastic particles may neither buffer nor exacerbate the pharmaceutical’s impact in this context. Conclusion: These results highlight that not all pollutants have equally visible effects. Ibuprofen, even at low concentrations, showed significant developmental impact, while LDPE appeared less toxic under these conditions. Still, microplastics remain a concern due to their potential role in modifying chemical toxicity. |
| Keywords |
| pharmaceuticals, microplastics, zebrafish |
| Status: Accepted |
