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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Journal of Applied Toxicology

Parental Exposure to Nanoplastics and Graphene Oxide Induces Transgenerational Toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans

  • Gabriela Corrêa Soares1,2
  • Larissa Müller1,2
  • Suamy Machado Cruz1,2
  • Andy Taipe Huisa1,2
  • Danilo Roberto Carvalho Ferreira3
  • Clascídia Aparecida Furtado3
  • Juliane Ventura‐Lima1,2
  1. 1Universidade Federal do Rio Grande – FURG Rio Grande Rio Grande do Sul Brazil
  2. 2Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas – Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB) – Universidade Federal do Rio Grande – FURG Rio Grande Rio Grande do Sul Brazil
  3. 3Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear – CDTN Belo Horizonte Minas Gerais Brazil
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Abstract

Environmental pollution by emerging contaminants such as nanoplastics (NPs) and graphene oxide (GO) represents a growing threat to global health and ecosystems. This study investigated the effects of parental exposure, both isolated and combined, to 100 μg/L NPs (polystyrene, spherical, 100 nm) and 100 mg/L GO, using Caenorhabditis elegans as a biological model. Parental exposure to these contaminants induced oxidative stress and alterations in antioxidant defense enzymes (SOD, CAT, GST), leading to lipid peroxidation and physiological impairments such as reduced reproduction, locomotion, and growth. Notably, these biochemical disruptions were also evident in unexposed offspring, indicating transgenerational inheritance of toxic effects. Overall, our findings highlight persistent oxidative damage as a central mechanism underlying NPs‐ and GO‐induced toxicity and emphasize the need to incorporate generational studies into environmental risk assessment to better predict long‐term impacts of emerging contaminants.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{soares2026parental,
  title = {{Parental Exposure to Nanoplastics and Graphene Oxide Induces Transgenerational Toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans}},
  author = {Gabriela Corrêa Soares and Larissa Müller and Suamy Machado Cruz and Andy Taipe Huisa and Danilo Roberto Carvalho Ferreira and Clascídia Aparecida Furtado and Juliane Ventura‐Lima},
  journal = {Journal of Applied Toxicology},
  year = {2026},
  month = may,
  doi = {10.1002/jat.70250},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/jat.70250},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Parental Exposure to Nanoplastics and Graphene Oxide Induces Transgenerational Toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans
AU  - Gabriela Corrêa Soares
AU  - Larissa Müller
AU  - Suamy Machado Cruz
AU  - Andy Taipe Huisa
AU  - Danilo Roberto Carvalho Ferreira
AU  - Clascídia Aparecida Furtado
AU  - Juliane Ventura‐Lima
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/29
JO  - Journal of Applied Toxicology
DO  - 10.1002/jat.70250
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1002/jat.70250
AB  - Environmental pollution by emerging contaminants such as nanoplastics (NPs) and graphene oxide (GO) represents a growing threat to global health and ecosystems. This study investigated the effects of parental exposure, both isolated and combined, to 100 μg/L NPs (polystyrene, spherical, 100 nm) and 100 mg/L GO, using Caenorhabditis elegans as a biological model. Parental exposure to these contaminants induced oxidative stress and alterations in antioxidant defense enzymes (SOD, CAT, GST), leading to lipid peroxidation and physiological impairments such as reduced reproduction, locomotion, and growth. Notably, these biochemical disruptions were also evident in unexposed offspring, indicating transgenerational inheritance of toxic effects. Overall, our findings highlight persistent oxidative damage as a central mechanism underlying NPs‐ and GO‐induced toxicity and emphasize the need to incorporate generational studies into environmental risk assessment to better predict long‐term impacts of emerging contaminants.
SN  - 0260-437X
SN  - 1099-1263
ER  -