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Human Health Effects
Marine & Wildlife
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Are microplastics a new cardiac threat? A pilot study with wild fish from the North East Atlantic Ocean
Environmental Research2024
8 citations
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Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 55
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Sara Couto Lourenço,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Giovanni Paolo Senes,
Giovanni Paolo Senes,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Alexandre Aleluia,
Sara Couto Lourenço,
Sara Couto Lourenço,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Xosé Luís Otero,
Xosé Luís Otero,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Alexandre Aleluia,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Alexandre Aleluia,
Giovanni Paolo Senes,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Giovanni Paolo Senes,
Xosé Luís Otero,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Xosé Luís Otero,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Xosé Luís Otero,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Sara Couto Lourenço,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Summary
Researchers examined the hearts of 154 wild fish from three commercial species in the North East Atlantic and found microplastics in the cardiac tissue of nearly one in five fish. The plastic particles varied in polymer type, shape, and color across species, with sardines showing the highest contamination rates. The findings suggest that microplastic contamination of the heart may be widespread in marine fish, warranting further research into cardiovascular health effects.
Global environmental contamination by microplastics (MPs) is a growing problem with potential One Health impacts. The presence of MPs in vital organs, such as the heart, is of particular concern, but the knowledge is still limited. The goal of the present pilot study was to investigate the potential presence of MPs in the heart of wild specimens of three commercial fish species (Merluccius merluccius, Sardina pilchardus, and Trisopterus luscus) from the North East Atlantic Ocean. Heart samples from 154 fish were analysed for MP content (one heart sample per fish). A total of 44 MPs were recovered from heart samples from the three species. MPs had varied chemical composition (5 polymers), shapes (4) and colours (5). Differences in the profile of the MPs among species was observed (p ≤ 0.05). Thirty fish (19%) had MPs in their hearts, with a total mean (±SD) concentration of 0.286 ± 0.644 MPs/fish. S. pilchardus had the highest heart contamination (p ≤ 0.05). There were no significant (p > 0.05) differences between M. merluccius and T. luscus. These findings in fish with different biological and ecological traits together with literature data suggest that heart contamination likely is a disseminated phenomenon. Therefore, further research on the presence of MPs in the cardiovascular system and its potential health effects is very much needed.