We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastic occurrence and effects in commercially harvested North American finfish and shellfish: Current knowledge and future directions
AI summary Read the abstract
This review assessed the occurrence and effects of microplastics in commercially harvested fish and shellfish in North America, finding a paucity of data and inconsistent methodologies that limit risk assessment for fisheries and seafood consumers. The authors call for standardized monitoring protocols and more research on population-level effects in commercially important species.
Abstract Commercial fisheries yield essential foods, sustain cultural practices, and provide widespread employment around the globe. Commercially harvested species face a myriad of anthropogenic threats including degraded habitats, changing climate, overharvest, and pollution. Microplastics are pollutants of increasing concern, which are pervasive in the environment and can harbor or adsorb pollutants from surrounding waters. Aquatic organisms, including commercial species, encounter and ingest microplastics, but there is a paucity of data about those caught and cultured in North America. Additional research is needed to determine prevalence, physiological effects, and population‐level implications of microplastics in commercial species from Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Investigations into possible human health effects of microplastic exposure from seafood are also greatly needed. This synthesis summarizes current knowledge, identifies data gaps, and provides future research directions for addressing microplastics effects in commercially valuable North American fishery species.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics in aquatic food chain : sources, measurement, occurrence and potential health risks
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines the sources, measurement methods, occurrence, and potential health risks of microplastics throughout aquatic food chains, finding that while microplastics are ubiquitous in fish, shellfish, and other aquatic food sources, the data needed for a comprehensive human dietary exposure and risk assessment are not yet available. Researchers identify standardization of detection methods as a critical prerequisite for meaningful risk evaluation.
Occurrence of Microplastics in Commercial Seafood under the Perspective of the Human Food Chain. A Review
AI summary Read the abstract
This review evaluated the occurrence of microplastics in commercial seafood species from the perspective of the human food chain. Researchers found that while microplastics have been detected across a wide range of seafood species, comparing data across studies and conducting appropriate risk assessments remains difficult due to methodological inconsistencies, and the study proposed linking seafood feeding strategies with microplastic contamination levels as a new analytical approach.
Overviewing the Ground Reality of Microplastic Effects on Seafoods, Including Fish, Shrimps and Crabs: Future Research Directions
AI summary Read the abstract
This review compiled global data on microplastic contamination in commercially harvested marine and freshwater fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and other seafood, finding widespread ingestion across all major seafood categories. The authors assess implications for food safety and call for standardized monitoring and risk thresholds for microplastics in seafood.
Microplastics in coastal areas and seafood: implications for food safety
AI summary Read the abstract
This review summarizes research on microplastic contamination in coastal waters and seafood, examining the potential risks of dietary exposure for humans. Researchers found that while microplastics have been detected in many commercially important fish and shellfish species, toxicological data remain limited and risk assessments are complicated by inconsistent analytical methods. The study concludes that more standardized exposure and toxicity data are needed before reliable food safety standards for microplastics in seafood can be established.
Unveiling microplastic contamination in seafood: Source, fate, analytical methods, health impacts, mitigation strategies and scientometric trends
AI summary Read the abstract
This review provides a comprehensive overview of microplastic contamination in seafood, covering sources, detection methods, health implications, and global research trends from 2011 to 2025. Researchers found significant gaps in toxicological studies and inconsistencies in detection methods across different regions. The study calls for standardized analytical approaches and more interdisciplinary research to better understand and mitigate the risks of consuming microplastic-contaminated seafood.
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.