Standardized protocol for microplastic sampling and identification in pelagic faunal gastrointestinal tracts

Microplastics in the Marine Ecosystems: Identification and Impacts

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Tiny plastic particles called microplastics, broken-down bits of everyday plastic waste, are showing up along India's coastlines, and this review paper rounds up what scientists have found so far. While research on their health effects is still catching up, these particles are known to persist in the environment and can enter the food chain through seafood, raising concerns about long-term exposure for coastal communities. The authors point out that India still needs a lot more research to fully understand how serious this problem is and what it means for people's health.

A multispecies bioindication framework for assessing microplastic pollution in marine fish

Holistic Approach to the Marine Microplastics: Sampling, Characterization, Consequences

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A standardized universal sampling protocol for pelagic microplastics is proposed to generate qualitative and quantitative data that can be meaningfully compared across ocean regions. Harmonizing collection and characterization methods is a prerequisite for building the global dataset needed to track microplastic pollution trends over time.

Microplastic in fish – A global synthesis

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A global synthesis of microplastic ingestion data from marine, freshwater, and estuarine fish found that 49% of sampled fish worldwide had ingested plastic, averaging 3.5 pieces per fish, with freshwater fish and those from aquaculture sources showing higher ingestion rates than wild marine fish. This comprehensive analysis reveals that microplastic contamination of fish — a primary human protein source globally — is now the rule rather than the exception, underscoring urgent risks to food safety.