Impact of environmental particulates on zebrafish embryo development and gene expression

Particulate matter (PM) poses risks to environmental and human health, yet its toxicity mechanisms in aquatic organisms remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of 2 PM types, a standard reference material (S-PM10, NIST, USA) and particulates from the Mae Moh Power Plant, Thailand (MMPS), on zebrafish embryo development and gene expression. Embryos were exposed to various concentrations, and mortality, hatching rates, and morphological abnormalities were assessed. S-PM10, with irregular morphology and broad particle size, induced developmental defects and reduced hatching. MMPS, characterized by uniform, spherical particles, caused higher mortality. qRT-PCR revealed that S-PM10 significantly upregulated oxidative stress (sod1, gstp2) and apoptosis (bax, casp3a) genes. In contrast, MMPS downregulated oxidative stress markers but upregulated apoptosis-related genes. These results suggest particle morphology and size influence toxicity profiles, S-PM10 triggers developmental disruption, while MMPS induces acute lethality. This study underscores the importance of particle characteristics and molecular responses in evaluating PM toxicity.