Toxicological effect of MPA-CdSe QDs exposure on zebrafish embryo and larvae

► The LC50 of MPA-CdSe for zebrafish at 120 hpf was 1.98 mg L−1. ► Embryos exposure to MPA-CdSe resulted in lower hatch rate and more malformations. ► Abnormal vascular of FLI-1 transgenic zebrafish larvae exposed to MPA-CdSe appeared. ► Larvae exposure to MPA-CdSe elicited a higher basal swimming rate. ► MPA-CdSe induced embryo cell apoptosis at 24 hpf in the head and tail region.