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A fish tale: a century of museum specimens reveal increasing microplastic concentrations in freshwater fish

Ecological Applications 2021 56 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 55 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Chelsea M. Rochman, Timothy J. Hoellein, Timothy J. Hoellein, Keenan Munno, Chelsea M. Rochman, Keenan Munno, Timothy J. Hoellein, Keenan Munno, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Timothy J. Hoellein, Keenan Munno, Keenan Munno, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Timothy J. Hoellein, Timothy J. Hoellein, Timothy J. Hoellein, Timothy J. Hoellein, Timothy J. Hoellein, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Loren Hou, Loren Hou, Loren Hou, Loren Hou, Chelsea M. Rochman, Rachel E. McNeish, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Keenan Munno, Keenan Munno, Keenan Munno, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Caleb D. McMahan Keenan Munno, Keenan Munno, Keenan Munno, Keenan Munno, Timothy J. Hoellein, Timothy J. Hoellein, Timothy J. Hoellein, Timothy J. Hoellein, Timothy J. Hoellein, Timothy J. Hoellein, Timothy J. Hoellein, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Timothy J. Hoellein, Chelsea M. Rochman, Rachel E. McNeish, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Timothy J. Hoellein, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Keenan Munno, Chelsea M. Rochman, Keenan Munno, Keenan Munno, Keenan Munno, Chelsea M. Rochman, Timothy J. Hoellein, Timothy J. Hoellein, Chelsea M. Rochman, Timothy J. Hoellein, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Timothy J. Hoellein, Timothy J. Hoellein, Timothy J. Hoellein, Timothy J. Hoellein, Timothy J. Hoellein, Timothy J. Hoellein, Timothy J. Hoellein, Keenan Munno, Keenan Munno, Keenan Munno, Keenan Munno, Keenan Munno, Rachel E. McNeish, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Timothy J. Hoellein, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Rachel E. McNeish, Chelsea M. Rochman, Timothy J. Hoellein, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Timothy J. Hoellein, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Timothy J. Hoellein, Chelsea M. Rochman, Keenan Munno, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Keenan Munno, Keenan Munno, Timothy J. Hoellein, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Timothy J. Hoellein, Chelsea M. Rochman, Timothy J. Hoellein, Keenan Munno, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Timothy J. Hoellein, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Timothy J. Hoellein, Timothy J. Hoellein, Timothy J. Hoellein, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Keenan Munno, Timothy J. Hoellein, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Keenan Munno, Rachel E. McNeish, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Keenan Munno, Chelsea M. Rochman, Keenan Munno, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Keenan Munno, Chelsea M. Rochman, Timothy J. Hoellein, Rachel E. McNeish, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Chelsea M. Rochman, Caleb D. McMahan

Summary

Researchers analyzed preserved museum fish specimens spanning over a century (1900-2017) and found that microplastic concentrations in freshwater fish digestive tissues have increased significantly over time, correlating with rising global plastic production. The increase was most pronounced after the 1950s when plastic manufacturing expanded dramatically. The study provides the first historical timeline of microplastic ingestion in freshwater fish, confirming that contamination has escalated alongside industrial plastic use.

Body Systems
Digestive
Study Type Environmental

Plastic is pervasive in modern economies and ecosystems. Freshwater fish ingest microplastics (i.e., particles <5 mm), but no studies have examined historical patterns of their microplastic consumption. Measuring the patterns of microplastic pollution in the past is critical for predicting future trends and for understanding the relationship between plastics in fish and the environment. We measured microplastics in digestive tissues of specimens collected from the years 1900-2017 and preserved in museum collections. We collected new fish specimens in 2018, along with water and sediment samples. We selected four species: Micropterus salmoides (largemouth bass), Notropis stramineus (sand shiner), Ictalurus punctatus (channel catfish), and Neogobius melanostomus (round goby) because each was well represented in museum collections, are locally abundant, and collected from urban habitats. For each individual, we dissected the digestive tissue from esophagus to anus, subjected tissue to peroxide oxidation, examined particles under a dissecting microscope, and used Raman spectroscopy to characterize the particles' chemical composition. No microplastics were detected in any fish prior to 1950. From mid-century to 2018, microplastic concentrations showed a significant increase when data from all fish were considered together. All detected particles were fibers, and represented plastic polymers (e.g., polyester) along with mixtures of natural and synthetic textiles. For the specimens collected in 2018, microplastics in fish and sediment showed similar patterns across study sites, while water column microplastics showed no differences among locations. Overall, plastic pollution in common freshwater fish species is increasing and pervasive across individuals and species, and is likely related to changes in environmental concentrations. Museum specimens are an overlooked source for assessing historical patterns of microplastic pollution, and for predicting future trends in freshwater fish, thereby helping to sustain the health of commercial and recreational fisheries worldwide.

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