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Editorial retraction
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This editorial retraction removed from Science the paper by Lönnstedt and Eklöv on microplastic effects on larval perch, citing lack of ethical approval, absence of original data, and widespread lack of clarity about experimental conduct as found by Sweden's Central Ethical Review Board. The retraction highlights the critical importance of data integrity and ethical oversight in environmental toxicology research.
After an investigation, the Central Ethical Review Board in Sweden has recommended the retraction of the Report “Environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastic particles influence larval fish ecology,” by Oona M. Lönnstedt and Peter Eklöv, published in Science on 3 June 2016 (1). Science ran an Editorial Expression of Concern regarding the Report on 1 December 2016 (2). The Review Board's report, dated 21 April 2017, cited the following reasons for their recommendation: (i) lack of ethical approval for the experiments; (ii) absence of original data for the experiments reported in the paper; (iii) widespread lack of clarity concerning how the experiments were conducted. Although the authors have told Science that they disagree with elements of the Board's report, and although Uppsala University has not yet concluded its own investigation, the weight of evidence is that the paper should now be retracted. In light of the Board's recommendation and a 28 April 2017 request from the authors to retract the paper, Science is retracting the paper in full.
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Addendum to “Editorial Retraction of the Report ‘Environmentally relevantconcentrations of microplastic particles influence larval fish ecology,’ by O. M.Lönnstedt and P. Eklöv”
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This addendum announced that Uppsala University's investigation found both authors of a high-profile microplastics-fish larval behavior study committed research misconduct, confirming the earlier retraction of the Science paper and emphasizing the importance of data integrity in microplastic research.
Paper on microplastics in fish is retracted
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This news article reported on the retraction of a high-profile Science paper claiming that polystyrene microplastics from personal care products could inhibit hatching, stunt growth, and increase predation in perch, after investigators raised concerns about missing data and irregularities in how the study was conducted. The retraction serves as a cautionary case study for the importance of rigorous methodology and data transparency in microplastic toxicology research.
On Some Possible Ramifications of the “Microplastics in Fish” Case
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This paper examines a high-profile case of research misconduct in environmental science — a 2016 Science paper on microplastics and fish behavior that was retracted after findings could not be reproduced — and discusses the broader implications for scientific integrity in the field of plastic pollution research.
Evaluating Science's open-data policy
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This letter calls for a re-evaluation of the journal Science's open-data policy after a high-profile microplastic and fish behavior study was retracted due to data issues. The incident highlights the importance of data transparency and archiving in microplastic research.
RETRACTED: Environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastic particles influence larval fish ecology
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Note: This paper has been retracted by the journal. The original study claimed that microplastic exposure at environmental levels harmed larval fish development and behavior, but the findings were later deemed unreliable. Retracted studies should not be used as evidence for microplastic health effects, though the topic of microplastic impacts on early-life fish development continues to be studied by other research groups.
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