Untargeted Metabolomics Uncovers Food Safety Risks: Polystyrene Nanoplastics Induce Metabolic Disorders in Chicken...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Toxicology
• Food Safety
• Metabolomics

Background:

• Polystyrene nanoplastics (NPs) pose a threat to agricultural ecosystems and the food chain.
• Hepatotoxicity of NPs in chickens, a vital poultry species, is not well understood.
• Evaluating food safety risks in poultry products necessitates understanding NP effects on hepatic metabolism.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of chronic polystyrene nanoplastic exposure on hepatic metabolism in chickens.
• To assess the potential food safety risks associated with NP contamination in poultry products.
• To characterize NP-induced hepatic injury phenotypes and metabolic signatures in poultry.

Main Methods:

• Chickens were orally exposed to 100 nm polystyrene NPs via feed for 120 days.
• Histopathological evaluation and serum biochemical analysis were performed.
• Untargeted LC-MS/MS metabolomics profiling, KEGG pathway analysis, and GSEA were utilized.

Main Results:

• NP exposure induced hepatotoxicity, characterized by liver injury, lipid accumulation, elevated ALT, and triglyceride levels (p < 0.05).
• Metabolomics identified 193 differentially abundant metabolites, with L-leucine and NADH as key metabolic hubs.
• Enriched pathways included purine metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation; ABC transporters were suppressed. Key biomarkers 9-cis-retinal and phenylalanyl phenylalanine were altered.

Conclusions:

• Chronic polystyrene nanoplastic exposure causes significant hepatic injury and metabolic disturbances in chickens.
• Altered metabolic signatures, including specific biomarkers, indicate potential food safety concerns for poultry products.
• This study establishes NP-induced hepatic injury phenotypes and provides insights into NP toxicity in poultry production systems.