Papers

Addressing the global challenge of coastal sewage pollution

This review examines how untreated sewage -- which carries microplastics along with nutrients, pathogens, and heavy metals -- pollutes coastal environments where nearly half the world's population lives. Over 80% of sewage enters the environment without treatment, threatening marine ecosystems and human health through contaminated seafood and waterborne diseases.

Microbial education for marine invertebrate disease prevention in aquaculture

This review examines how manipulating the microbial communities of farmed shellfish and crustaceans can help prevent diseases in aquaculture. While not directly about microplastics, the paper is relevant because microplastic contamination in aquaculture environments can disrupt the beneficial microbiomes of farmed species, making them more vulnerable to disease. Healthier aquaculture organisms also mean safer seafood for human consumption.

Effects of Virgin Micro- and Nanoplastics on Fish: Trends, Meta-Analysis, and Perspectives

This meta-analysis pools data from many studies on how micro- and nanoplastics affect fish, finding evidence of harmful effects on growth, reproduction, and behavior. Since fish are a major protein source for billions of people, understanding how plastic pollution affects fish health has direct implications for human nutrition and food safety.

A critical review on the evaluation of toxicity and ecological risk assessment of plastics in the marine environment

This critical review questions whether current scientific methods can adequately assess the ecological risks of plastic pollution in the ocean. The authors note that plastics can cause physical, chemical, and biological harm to marine life, but most studies use unrealistically high concentrations and pristine lab-made particles rather than real-world weathered plastics. The review calls for more standardized and environmentally relevant testing approaches.

Pearl Farming Micro-Nanoplastics Affect Oyster Physiology and Pearl Quality

Researchers studied how micro- and nanoplastics from weathered pearl farming equipment affect oyster health and pearl quality in French Polynesia. Even at very low concentrations, the plastic particles reduced the oysters' ability to absorb nutrients and altered gene expression related to shell formation. The findings raise concerns that plastic pollution from farming equipment could threaten pearl quality and the long-term viability of the pearl industry.

White tides: The plastic nurdles problem

Researchers review the global scope of nurdle pollution — small pre-production plastic pellets that are the second largest source of primary microplastic contamination worldwide — finding that ~446,000 tonnes enter the environment annually due to inadequate spill response, weak IMO enforcement, and gaps in international regulatory coordination.

Evidence on the impacts of chemicals arising from human activity on tropical reef-building corals; a systematic map

This systematic review maps the evidence on how chemicals from human activity, including plastic-derived pollutants, affect tropical coral reefs. While focused on marine ecosystems rather than direct human health, the decline of coral reefs threatens the food security of millions of people who depend on reef fisheries for nutrition and livelihood.

A multifaceted assessment of the effects of polyethylene microplastics on juvenile gilthead seabreams (Sparus aurata)

Researchers examined the effects of polyethylene microplastic ingestion on juvenile gilthead seabream using multiple diagnostic approaches, assessing impacts across molecular, cellular, and organismal levels to better understand microplastic toxicity in fish.

The need to investigate continuums of plastic particle diversity, brackish environments and trophic transfer to assess the risk of micro and nanoplastics on aquatic organisms

A systematic literature review identified gaps in microplastic toxicology research, particularly the lack of studies using environmentally realistic particles in brackish-water environments and the underrepresentation of trophic transfer studies compared to single-species exposure tests.

Macroalgal diversity for sustainable biotechnological development in French tropical overseas territories

This review surveys the diversity of macroalgae in French tropical overseas territories and their biotechnological applications across Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and Pacific regions, covering 641 to 1015 species depending on the ocean basin. The authors highlight the potential of tropical macroalgal metabolites for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and bioremediation uses.

Microplastics Affect Energy Balance and Gametogenesis in the Pearl Oyster <i>Pinctada margaritifera</i>

Pearl oysters exposed to microplastics showed disrupted energy metabolism and impaired gametogenesis, suggesting that plastic pollution could threaten the reproductive success of marine bivalves used in pearl farming. The findings have economic as well as ecological implications, given that pearl farming is a major industry in tropical Pacific island nations.

Assessment of plastic waste generated by the aquaculture industry: The case study of pearl farming in French Polynesia

Double trouble in the South Pacific subtropical gyre: Increased plastic ingestion by fish in the oceanic accumulation zone

Commercial fish species from the South Pacific, collected from both oceanic accumulation zones and island markets, were found to have plastic in their digestive tracts, with higher ingestion rates in fish from the oceanic gyre. The results raise food safety concerns for Pacific island communities that rely heavily on locally caught fish.

Fishes in a changing world: learning from the past to promote sustainability of fish populations

This review examines major threats to global fish populations including habitat loss, overfishing, climate change, and pollution, and calls for integrated management approaches to ensure sustainable fisheries. Plastic pollution — including ingestion of microplastics — is identified as one of the key emerging threats to fish populations that management frameworks must address.

Pearl Farming Micro-Nanoplastics Affect Oyster Physiology and Pearl Quality

Pearl farming plastic gear was found to generate micro-nanoplastics (0.4-200 um) that affect pearl oyster (Pinctada margaritifera) physiology and pearl quality over a 5-month production cycle. The study closely mimicked real ecological conditions to assess risks to the pearl farming industry in French Polynesia.

No Effect of Polystyrene Microplastics on Foraging Activity and Survival in a Post-larvae Coral-Reef Fish, Acanthurus triostegus

Exposure to polystyrene microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations had no measurable effect on foraging activity or survival of juvenile coral reef fish (Acanthurus triostegus) in laboratory trials.

What evidence exists on the impacts of chemicals arising from human activity on tropical reef-building corals? A systematic map protocol

Researchers proposed a systematic map of evidence on how human-made chemicals — including microplastics — affect tropical reef-building corals, which support some of Earth's most biodiverse ecosystems. By cataloging what combinations of chemicals and coral responses have been studied, the map will help identify research gaps and guide local conservation decisions that can reduce chemical stress even as global climate threats persist.

Evaluation of microplastic ingestion by tropical fish from Moorea Island, French Polynesia

Researchers evaluated microplastic ingestion by four genera of adult tropical fish around Moorea Island, French Polynesia, finding microplastics in 21% of 133 digestive tracts examined. Ingested microplastic pieces averaged 1.25 per individual, with 70% of particles smaller than 0.3 mm, indicating widespread contamination of coral reef food webs.

Plastic and oceans

Pearl farming micro-nanoplastics affect both oyster physiology and pearl quality

Researchers exposed pearl oysters in French Polynesian lagoons to micro- and nanoplastics shed from pearl farming equipment itself, and found that even environmentally realistic concentrations disrupted energy metabolism and reduced how efficiently the oysters absorbed food from algae. After five months of exposure, both oyster health markers and pearl quality were measurably degraded. This shows that plastic pollution in aquaculture settings can undermine the very industry it contaminates, linking environmental and economic harm.

Pearl farming micro-nanoplastics affect both oyster physiology and pearl quality

Microplastics shed from pearl farming equipment accumulate in lagoon waters and, even at low concentrations, disrupt the energy metabolism, immune function, and reproductive biology of pearl oysters over a 5-month production cycle. Pearl quality was measurably degraded, meaning plastic pollution from aquaculture gear creates a feedback loop that harms the very industry generating it. This highlights a practical economic incentive — beyond ecological concern — for reducing plastic use in mariculture.

Pearl Farming Micro-nanoplastics Affect Oyster Physiology and Pearl Quality

Pearl oysters (Pinctada margaritifera) exposed to micro-nanoplastics shed from plastic pearl farming equipment showed disrupted energy metabolism, reduced assimilation of microalgae food, and impaired pearl quality over a five-month production cycle. The study is notable because it tested environmentally realistic plastic concentrations, linking the industry's own plastic infrastructure to measurable biological harm in the farmed animals.

Integrated assessment of microplastic and metallic trace element contamination in the giant clam Tridacna maxima and surrounding sediments in French Polynesia

Vulnerability of Coral Reefs to Contaminants of Emerging Concern