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Applications, trends, and challenges in the non-destructive assessment of microplastics in fish

Spectrochimica Acta Part A Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy 2025 2 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Maria Tarapoulouzi, Ioannis Ioannidis, Ioannis Pashalidis

Summary

This review examines non-destructive techniques for detecting microplastics in fish, which preserve sample integrity and allow for additional analyses compared to traditional methods. Researchers found that these approaches are increasingly valuable for ecological monitoring, risk assessment, and informing environmental policy. However, challenges remain around detection sensitivity, standardization across laboratories, and scaling these methods for widespread use.

Models

Microplastics (MPs) pose a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems, with fish serving as key indicators of environmental pollution and vectors for human exposure through the food chain. This review examines the types and sources of microplastics in fish, emphasizing their ecological and health implications. Furthermore, comprehensive analysis is provided on non-destructive assessment techniques, which are increasingly preferred for their ability to preserve sample integrity and enable further analyses. The review highlights applications of these techniques, including their use in ecological monitoring, risk assessment, and policymaking. Moreover, emerging trends and technological advancements in non-destructive methodologies are discussed. Challenges, including limitations in detection sensitivity, standardization, and scalability, are addressed, alongside potential solutions and future directions. By synthesizing current knowledge, this paper aims to present what has been done and indicate research gabs, fostering innovation in sustainable microplastic assessment in fish.

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