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Microplastic exposure, oxidative stress, and potential heme protein vulnerability in teleost fish: implications for oxygen transport and seafood quality
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This review pulls together existing studies showing that microplastics build up in fish (especially the liver) and trigger stress in their cells, weakening the fish's natural defenses against damage. Scientists suspect this stress could also harm the oxygen-carrying proteins in fish blood and muscle—potentially affecting fish health and the quality of the seafood we eat—but this specific effect hasn't been directly tested yet, so more research is needed before drawing firm conclusions about what it means for consumers.
Microplastics (MPs) are a growing concern due to the impact they have on fish physiology and safety of seafood. This review brings together recent research related MP induced oxidative stress in teleost fish and implications for muscle nutritional quality and the role of heme containing oxygen transport proteins. MPs are found primarily in the liver (32% of samples), as well as muscle, and enter fish primarily via gill uptake and ingestion. Laboratory tests consistently show increased oxidative stress markers such as malondialdehyde (MDA 1.8–3.78-fold) and protein carbonyls (1.8–2.4-fold) as well as decreased antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, GPx decreased by 38%–52%). This oxidative imbalance could enhance the possibility of the heme iron to undergo autoxidation and globin modification, but there is no direct evidence at this time as measurements of heme iron redox state, P 50 values and methemoglobin generation have not been performed. Metabolomic analysis also shows changes in the levels of amino acids, such as a decrease in tryptophan and tyrosine, suggesting impaired metabolic processes with unfamiliar relevance to heme biosynthesis. This review differentiates between established oxidative and inflammatory effects and the hypothesized effects on heme proteins, and emphasizes the critical need for direct biophysical measurements such as methemoglobin, P 50 , heme speciation to gain a better understanding of fish welfare and seafood nutritional quality.
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Microplastics induce toxic effects in fish: Bioaccumulation, hematological parameters and antioxidant responses
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Researchers exposed juvenile fish to polyamide microplastics and found the particles accumulated primarily in the intestine, gills, and liver, causing reduced blood oxygen-carrying capacity, liver stress, and disrupted antioxidant defenses. These findings matter because fish are an important food source for humans, and microplastic accumulation in fish tissues could transfer these contaminants to people through their diet.
Toxic effects on bioaccumulation, hematological parameters, oxidative stress, immune responses and neurotoxicity in fish exposed to microplastics: A review
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This review summarizes how microplastics affect fish health, covering toxic effects on blood, immune system, nervous system, and the buildup of plastics in fish tissues. Microplastics that accumulate in fish can trigger oxidative damage, weaken immune responses, and impair brain-related enzyme activity. Since fish are a major protein source for humans, understanding how microplastics harm fish health is directly relevant to the safety of our food supply.
Hazards of microplastics exposure to liver function in fishes: A systematic review and meta-analysis
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This meta-analysis found that microplastic exposure significantly impairs fish liver function, elevating key liver enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP, LDH) and triggering oxidative stress markers in liver tissue. The toxicological mechanisms include inflammation, apoptosis, and metabolic disruption, raising concerns about the health of fish populations in microplastic-contaminated waters and the safety of fish as a human food source.
Evaluation of Microplastics and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Marine Fish
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Scientists found tiny plastic bits (from things like packaging and synthetic fabrics) inside the gills, guts, and muscle of three popular seafood fish, and these plastics were linked to cell damage from oxidative stress—basically, wear and tear at the cellular level that varied depending on the fish species. This matters because it suggests the fish we eat may be absorbing plastic pollution in ways that affect their health, and since we eat the muscle tissue too, it raises questions about what we might be consuming along with our seafood—though more research is needed to know exactly how this impacts human health.
Microplastics in Fish and Fishery Products and Risks for Human Health: A Review
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This review summarizes existing research on microplastic contamination in fish and seafood products and the associated human health risks. Microplastics found in fish can carry harmful chemicals and pathogens, and once eaten by humans, they may cause oxidative stress and move from the gut to other tissues. The review highlights seafood as a major dietary source of microplastic exposure and calls for better monitoring and risk assessment.
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