Ecotoxicological effects of polyethylene microplastic and pesticides, alone and in mixtures, on the embryonic development of Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

• Grant number: 24/21003-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: January 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Fisheries Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Ana Letícia Madeira Sanches
• Grantee: Maria Vitória Raupp Sebastião
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias. Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus do Vale do Ribeira. Registro , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/12104-4 - Fate and impacts of microplastics and pesticides in aquatic and terrestrial matrices in agricultural contexts, AP.TEM

Abstract

Little is known about the effects of the interaction between chemical compounds present in the aquatic environment and microplastics on non-target organisms, especially regarding bioaccumulation and their ecological impacts. The increasing use of pesticides and microplastics in water bodies represents a potential threat to aquatic communities, affecting organisms not directly exposed to these contaminants. This study aims to evaluate the environmental effects of the interaction between pesticides and microplastics on Danio rerio fish, a model widely used in environmental toxicology. To achieve this objective, embryonic development tests (Fish Embryo Toxicity Test) will be performed, with Danio rerio embryos exposed to five different concentrations of each compound: imidacloprid (I), tebuconazole (T), polyethylene microplastic (MP), and mixtures of these substances (I+T+MP). Exposure will occur for 96 hours, and parameters such as mortality, malformations, pigmentation, development rate, and changes in embryo behavior will be monitored.Furthermore, the research will investigate the potential synergistic, additive, and antagonistic effects promoted by the interaction between pesticides and microplastics. Data analysis will be performed through non-linear regression and analysis of variance using the Statistic 8.0 software. The expected results will provide a deeper understanding of the ecological impacts of the combination of these contaminants on non-target aquatic species, contributing to the formulation of public policies and strategies to mitigate environmental damage caused by pesticides and microplastics