Leachate from plastic food packaging induced reproductive and neurobehavioral toxicity in zebrafish

The present study mimicked daily life exposure to plastic food package bags and evaluated its effects on the reproductive and neurobehavioral responses using zebrafish model. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC/MS) full scan analysis revealed that phthalic acid, isobutyl octyl ester (DEHP) and its metabolites were the main leachate from plastic bags. Our results demonstrated that during the eight weeks exposure, leaching from plastic bags treated with boiling water (P-high group) significantly affected the spawn egg production, embryo hatching and larval malformation rate. Cross-spawning trails between zebrafish collected from the controls and P-high group at the end of eight weeks showed that these adverse effects were more severe in the offspring derived from paternal exposure than those derived from the maternal exposure, suggesting leached chemicals may have a more pronounced effect in sperm than in eggs. In addition, P-high group male testis weight, sperm motility and sperm swimming velocities were decreased significantly. After eight weeks treatment, neurobehavioral tests demonstrated significant changes in the swimming speed during free swimming and light-dark stimulation in the adult zebrafish from P-high group, with the effects being more severe in the males than females. P-high group males also showed altered response in the light/dark explore and mirror attacks assays. [Display omitted] •DEHP and its metabolites were the main leachate from disposable transparent plastic bags.•Leachate from boiling water bag (P-high) decreased the reproductive success and male gamete.•P-high resulted in motor and social neurobehavioral changes.•P-high had more severe effects on males than on females.