We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics in Seafood and the Implications for Human Health
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how humans are exposed to microplastics through seafood consumption and discusses the potential health implications. Researchers note that shellfish and small fish eaten whole pose the greatest concern because the entire digestive tract, where microplastics accumulate, is consumed. The evidence suggests that any toxicity depends on factors like particle size, polymer type, and the chemicals attached to the plastic surfaces.
We describe evidence regarding human exposure to microplastics via seafood and discuss potential health effects. Shellfish and other animals consumed whole pose particular concern for human exposure. If there is toxicity, it is likely dependent on dose, polymer type, size, surface chemistry, and hydrophobicity. Human activity has led to microplastic contamination throughout the marine environment. As a result of widespread contamination, microplastics are ingested by many species of wildlife including fish and shellfish. Because microplastics are associated with chemicals from manufacturing and that sorb from the surrounding environment, there is concern regarding physical and chemical toxicity. Evidence regarding microplastic toxicity and epidemiology is emerging. We characterize current knowledge and highlight gaps. We also recommend mitigation and adaptation strategies targeting the life cycle of microplastics and recommend future research to assess impacts of microplastics on humans. Addressing these research gaps is a critical priority due to the nutritional importance of seafood consumption.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics in Fish and Shellfish – A Threat to Seafood Safety?
AI summary Read the abstract
This review evaluated the current knowledge on microplastic contamination in fish and shellfish in relation to seafood safety. Researchers found that while microplastics are commonly detected in the gastrointestinal tracts of fish (which are typically not consumed), bivalves and small fish eaten whole may present a more direct route of human exposure, though the overall health risk from microplastics in seafood remains uncertain.
Microplastics and Their Possible Effects on Seafoods
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how microplastics enter seafood through ingestion and surface contamination, discussing evidence for plastic presence in fish, shellfish, and other seafood products consumed by humans. The authors evaluate potential health risks from both the plastic particles themselves and the chemical additives and pollutants they carry.
Microplastics and seafood: lower trophic organisms at highest risk of contamination
AI summary Read the abstract
This systematic review summarizes existing research on microplastic contamination in commercially important seafood species. The findings show that organisms lower on the food chain, like shellfish and small fish, tend to accumulate the most microplastics. Since many people eat these organisms whole, including their digestive tracts, this represents a direct pathway for microplastics to enter the human diet.
Impact of Microplastics on Human Health through the Consumption of Seafood: A Review
AI summary Read the abstract
This review synthesizes evidence on how microplastics in seafood pose health risks to humans upon ingestion, detailing how MPs spread through the digestive system to other organs and cause toxicological effects including oxidative stress, immune disruption, and metabolic changes.
Threats of Microplastic Pollution on Fishes and its Implications on Human Health (Review Article)
AI summary Read the abstract
This review summarizes research from 2010 to 2023 on microplastic contamination in fish and its potential implications for human health. Researchers found that microplastics are ingested by fish across diverse aquatic environments, with particles accumulating in the gastrointestinal tract and other tissues. The study highlights concerns that microplastic-contaminated seafood may represent a pathway for human exposure to both the plastic particles and associated chemical pollutants.
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.