The Potential Toxic Effects of Ceftriaxone and Polypropylene Microplastics on Danio Rerio (Hamilton, 1822) Behaviour

Ramona-Alexandra Ciauşu; Ionuț-Alexandru Chelaru; Dorel Ureche; Gabriel-Andrei Andronic; Mircea Nicușor Nicoară

doi:10.2478/trser-2025-0018

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The Potential Toxic Effects of Ceftriaxone and Polypropylene Microplastics on Danio Rerio (Hamilton, 1822) Behaviour

Transylvanian Review of Systematical and Ecological Research

Volume 27 (2025): Issue 3 (December 2025)

By: Ramona-Alexandra Ciauşu , Ionuț-Alexandru Chelaru , Dorel Ureche, Gabriel-Andrei Andronic and Mircea Nicușor Nicoară

Open Access

|Dec 2025

Abstract

The literature contains numerous studies on the individual effects of microplastics and pharmaceuticals that reach aquatic systems through various pathways. However, there are few studies that evaluate their combined effects. Ceftriaxone (CEF) and polypropylene (PP) are emerging pollutants found in the aquatic environment. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of ceftriaxone (50 µg L⁻¹) and polypropylene (2 mg L⁻¹) (individually and in mixture) on the behaviour of Danio rerio. The exposure to microplastics and antibiotics, alone or combined, differentially affect Danio rerio exploratory and social behaviours, with combined exposure potentially exacerbating behavioural alterations.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/trser-2025-0018 | Journal eISSN: 2344-3219 | Journal ISSN: 1841-7051

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Language: English

Page range: 35 - 50

Published on: Dec 31, 2025

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© 2025 Ramona-Alexandra Ciauşu, Ionuț-Alexandru Chelaru, Dorel Ureche, Gabriel-Andrei Andronic, Mircea Nicușor Nicoară, published by Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu
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Volume 27 (2025): Issue 3 (December 2025)