0
Article Tier 2 Marine & Wildlife Sign in to save

Microplastics in Fish: An Emerging Environmental Challenge

2025 1 citation

AI summary Read the abstract

This review synthesized evidence on microplastic bioavailability and accumulation in fish species globally, examining ingestion routes, tissue distribution, and potential health effects on both fish and human consumers. As a major dietary protein source for billions of people, fish contaminated with microplastics represent a direct and quantifiable pathway for human exposure to plastic particles and their adsorbed chemical pollutants.

The widespread presence of microplastics (MPs) in aquatic environments has raised significant concerns about their bioavailability and potential risks to aquatic biota. Fish, a crucial source of animal protein for millions worldwide, are increasingly exposed to MPs,...

More Papers Like This

Article Tier 2

Microplastic in fish – A global synthesis

AI summary Read the abstract

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.

Article Tier 2

Current State of Research on the Prevalence of Microplastics in Aquatic Fish and Their Impact on Health

AI summary Read the abstract

Researchers reviewed microplastic contamination in fish across all seven continents, finding marine fish were studied 2.6 times more than freshwater species, and that microplastics trigger oxidative stress, alter biochemical pathways, and accumulate through biotransformation in fish tissues globally.

Article Tier 2

Microplastics: An Emerging Threat to the Aquatic Ecosystem

AI summary Read the abstract

Researchers reviewed the accumulation of microplastics across aquatic ecosystems worldwide, finding that plastic particles have reached even remote water bodies and pose threats to aquatic organisms through ingestion, physical harm, and the transport of toxic chemical pollutants.

Article Tier 2

Impact of Plastic Waste Ingestion by Fish

AI summary Read the abstract

This review synthesized experimental evidence on how microplastic ingestion affects fish physiology and behavior, finding that plastics act as vectors for toxic chemicals including mercury, cause oxidative stress, and transfer contaminants up the food chain to human consumers. Because microplastics bioaccumulate through trophic levels, populations relying heavily on seafood—particularly from coastal regions—face compounded exposure risks that extend well beyond the plastic particles themselves.

Research digests by email

When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.

Email me about

Share this paper