Assessment of Microplastics in the Digestive Tract of Species of Fishes Around the Itaqui Port Complex, São Luís, State of Maranhão, Brazil

Ecological and Seasonal Patterns of Microplastic Ingestion in Fish Near a Port Region in the Brazilian Amazon

Microplastics in Brazilian aquatic ecosystems and seafood: An updated review

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This review pulls together 100 studies to show that Brazil's rivers, bays, and coastal waters are widely contaminated with tiny plastic particles called microplastics, mostly from clothing fibers and packaging. Seafood like fish, shellfish, and crustaceans are absorbing these particles, sometimes in huge amounts, which raises real concerns for anyone eating fish from these waters. The bigger picture: plastic pollution levels swing a lot depending on rainfall and tourist seasons, and scientists still need better, more consistent testing methods to fully understand how much risk this poses to human health.

Biochemical responses and ingestion of microplastics by native fishes in the Atlantic Forest, southern Brazil

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Researchers assessed fish health along a contamination gradient in Brazil's Atlantic Forest and found that microplastic accumulation was highest in carnivorous fish at impacted midstream sites, while biochemical stress markers were elevated even in upstream areas considered relatively pristine, underscoring the need for ongoing biomonitoring.

Evaluation of microplastic in the digestive tract of fish species in the vicinity of the Itaqui Port Complex, São Luís – MA

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Researchers evaluated microplastic content in the digestive tracts of fish species collected in the vicinity of the Itaqui Port Complex in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. The study characterised microplastic presence and quantity in fish from a commercially and industrially active coastal area, contributing to the understanding of microplastic contamination in South American estuarine fish communities.

Evaluation of Microplastic Pollution in Gills of Freshwater Fish in a Neotropical Hydrographic Basin, Brazil

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Analysis of gill tissue from 98 freshwater fish across eight species in Brazil's Sorocaba River basin found microplastics in every individual, with fibers comprising 74% of the 385 particles detected and highest contamination in the most disturbed river. The universal gill contamination across species demonstrates that freshwater fish in human-impacted watersheds serve as a direct route for microplastic entry into aquatic food webs and ultimately human diets.