Papers

A short-term exposure to saxitoxin triggers a multitude of deleterious effects in Daphnia magna at levels deemed safe for human health

This study found that saxitoxin, a natural toxin produced during harmful algal blooms, harmed the tiny freshwater organism Daphnia magna even at concentrations considered safe for humans. The toxin caused oxidative stress, disrupted energy metabolism, and damaged DNA in the organisms. While not directly about microplastics, this research is relevant because microplastics can interact with algal toxins in waterways, potentially changing how these harmful substances move through ecosystems.

Aquaculture in the crossroad of microplastic contamination

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in three commercially important shellfish species -- oysters, clams, and mussels -- from aquaculture operations in different climate conditions. They found microplastics present in all species and at all sites, with polyester and polyethylene being the most common types. The study raises awareness that aquaculture practices and equipment may contribute to microplastic contamination in farmed seafood.

Relations between microplastic contamination and stress biomarkers under two seasonal conditions in wild carps, mullets and flounders

Researchers examined the relationship between microplastic contamination and biological stress markers in wild carp, mullet, and flounder populations from a Portuguese river estuary across two seasons. They found that fish with higher microplastic loads showed altered stress biomarker levels, with seasonal differences in the patterns observed. The study provides field-based evidence that microplastic contamination is associated with measurable physiological stress responses in wild fish.

P08-09 Are all plastics equal? Effects of conventional and biobased microplastics chronic dietary exposure on Sparus auratabrain health and behaviour

Differential Effects of the Human Digestive Process on Petroleum- and Bio-Based Microplastics Following an In Vitro Approach to Determine Polymer Integrity and Seafood Digestibility

Researchers used an in vitro human digestion model to assess how PET and PLA microplastics affect the digestibility of three seafood species, finding that both plastic types partially resisted gastrointestinal degradation and that they differentially altered nutrient absorption from the seafood.

Microplastics in the deep: Suspended particles affect the model species Mytilus galloprovincialis under hyperbaric conditions

Researchers exposed juvenile Mediterranean mussels to polyethylene microplastics at three concentrations and three pressure levels (1, 4, and 50 Bar) for 96 hours to simulate deep-sea conditions. Microplastics significantly reduced filtration rates and triggered oxidative stress, with transcriptomic analysis revealing pressure-dependent differences in how mussels respond to plastic exposure.

Microplastic ingestion and diet composition of planktivorous fish

This study analyzed stomach contents of six planktivorous pelagic fish species from Atlanto-Iberian waters, finding microplastics in a substantial proportion of individuals. The relationship between microplastic ingestion and diet composition suggests that fish consuming prey similar in size to microplastics are at higher risk of ingestion.

Drivers of niche partitioning in a community of mid-trophic level epipelagic species in the North Atlantic

Researchers examined niche partitioning in a community of 11 mid-trophic epipelagic species in the Northeast Atlantic using stable isotope analysis, finding that taxonomic group was the primary driver of habitat and diet differentiation, with body size further influencing niche separation within species.

Life cycle assessment of fish and seafood processed products – A review of methodologies and new challenges

Researchers reviewed over 60 life cycle assessment studies on fish and seafood products, identifying key methodological inconsistencies and recommending that future LCAs adopt species- and region-specific indicators, address ghost fishing and wastewater impacts, and better integrate the water-energy-food nexus framework.

P18-47 Development of an in vitro bioaccessibility model to assess the influence of microplastics co-ingestion in marine carnivorous fish digestive process

Environmental assessment of common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) from a small-scale fishery in Algarve (Portugal)

Researchers conducted a lifecycle assessment of common octopus fishing in Portugal, estimating that 12.2 grams of plastic are lost to the environment per kilogram of octopus caught — mainly from lost fishing gear — and identified fuel use and gear type as the largest environmental impacts of this small-scale fishery.