Impact of airborne total suspended particles (TSP) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5)‐induced developmental toxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos

Airborne total suspended particles (TSP) and particulate matter (PM2.5) threaten global health and their potential impact on cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are extensively studied. Recent studies attest premature deaths, low birth weight, and congenital anomalies in the fetus of pregnant women exposed to air pollution. In this regard, only few studies have explored the effects of TSP and PM2.5 on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular development. As both TSP and PM2.5 differ in size and composition, this study is attempted to assess the variability in toxicity effects between TSP and PM2.5 on the development of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems and the underlying mechanisms in a zebrafish model. To explore the potential toxic effects of TSP and PM2.5, zebrafish embryos/larvae were exposed to 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 μg/ml of TSP and PM2.5 from 24 to 120 hpf (hours post‐fertilization). Both TSP and PM2.5 exposure increased the rate of mortality, malformations, and oxidative stress, whereas locomotor behavior, heart rate, blood flow velocity, development of cardiovasculature and neurovasculature, and dopaminergic neurons were reduced. The expression of genes involved in endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), Wnt signaling, and central nervous system (CNS) development were altered in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. This study provides evidence for acute exposure to TSP and PM2.5‐induced cardiovascular and neurodevelopmental toxicity, attributed to enhanced oxidative stress and aberrant gene expression. Comparatively, the effects of PM2.5 were more pronounced than TSP. Airborne TSP and PM2.5 pollution are considered as a major global threat to public health as they contribute a combination of toxic compounds. In the present study, in a zebra fish model, TSP and PM2.5 exposure increased mortality, malformations, delayed hatchability, ROS production, impaired the growth of blood vessels, heart rate, blood flow velocity, development of DA (dopamine) neurons, and locomotor behavior. PM2.5 exposure alone affected neurovasculature‐induced cerebral hemorrhage. Both altered the gene expression profiles associated with cardiovascular and brain development.