Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Effects of Microplastics on Gene Expression, Muscular Performance, and Immunological Responses in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): Seasonal and Habitat Variations

Researchers found microplastics in both the gut and muscle tissue of Nile tilapia fish from two sites along the Nile River in Egypt, with contamination levels varying by season and location. The microplastics activated genes linked to muscle wasting, cell death, and inflammation while suppressing growth-related genes, with the worst effects seen during summer months. Since tilapia is a widely consumed fish, these findings raise concerns about microplastic-related damage being passed to humans through the food supply.

2025 Marine Biotechnology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Understanding the sources, fate and effects of microplastics in aquatic environments with a focus on risk profiling in aquaculture systems

This review summarizes how microplastics enter aquaculture systems and accumulate in farmed fish, causing toxic effects including immune disruption, oxidative stress, and genetic damage. Since farmed fish are a major food source, the buildup of microplastics in aquaculture poses a direct pathway for these particles to reach human diets.

2024 Reviews in Aquaculture 67 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastic fibers on Lates calcarifer juveniles: Accumulation, oxidative stress, intestine microbiome dysbiosis and histological damage

Researchers fed juvenile barramundi fish polyethylene microplastic fibers for 56 days and found that while the fibers did not affect growth, they induced intestinal oxidative stress and disrupted the gut microbiome. Beneficial bacteria including Lactobacillus species were significantly reduced, while overall microbial diversity declined. The study suggests that microplastic fiber ingestion can compromise intestinal health in marine fish even without observable effects on growth.

2021 Ecological Indicators 60 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of microplastic-contaminated liver through gene expression profiling of four commercial fish species in the Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria

Researchers analyzed the livers of four commercial fish species from the Lagos Lagoon in Nigeria and found microplastic contamination in all of them. Gene expression analysis revealed that the microplastic accumulation triggered changes in genes related to stress response and immune function. The study raises concerns about potential health risks for people who regularly consume fish from polluted urban waterways.

2024 Scientific African 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics induce toxic effects in fish: Bioaccumulation, hematological parameters and antioxidant responses

Researchers exposed juvenile fish to polyamide microplastics and found the particles accumulated primarily in the intestine, gills, and liver, causing reduced blood oxygen-carrying capacity, liver stress, and disrupted antioxidant defenses. These findings matter because fish are an important food source for humans, and microplastic accumulation in fish tissues could transfer these contaminants to people through their diet.

2025 Chemosphere 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Organ-specific Microplastic Accumulation and Associated Oxidative Stress and Immune Responses in Barbonymus gonionotus from Downstream Bengawan Solo River, Indonesia

Researchers examined microplastic accumulation and associated biological stress responses in wild fish from the Bengawan Solo River in Indonesia. They found that gills accumulated the most microplastics, with evidence of particles translocating to muscle tissue, and observed elevated markers of immune activation and oxidative stress. The study suggests that combining particle characterization with biological measurements provides a sensitive framework for monitoring microplastic impacts on freshwater fish.

2026 Jurnal Ilmiah Perikanan dan Kelautan
Article Tier 2

Toxicity assessment of pollutants sorbed on microplastics using various bioassays on two fish cell lines

Researchers collected microplastic samples from ocean expeditions and tested their toxicity using two fish cell lines, finding that cell lines differed in sensitivity and that microplastics with sorbed pollutants were toxic to cells. The results suggest that real-world microplastics carrying accumulated chemical pollutants pose a chemical toxicity risk to marine organisms beyond just the physical effects of ingesting plastic.

2016 Infoscience (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)
Article Tier 2

Impacts of conventional and biodegradable microplastics on juvenile Lates calcarifer: Bioaccumulation, antioxidant response, microbiome, and proteome alteration

Researchers found that both conventional polyethylene and biodegradable microplastics from plastic bags caused bioaccumulation, oxidative stress, microbiome disruption, and proteome alterations in juvenile barramundi, indicating that biodegradable plastics are not necessarily safer for marine organisms.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 35 citations
Article Tier 2

The effects of exposure to microplastics on grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) at the physiological, biochemical, and transcriptomic levels

Researchers exposed grass carp to microplastics at two concentrations for 21 days and observed liver damage, inhibited growth, and increased oxidative stress. Transcriptome analysis revealed over 1,500 differentially expressed genes related to immune response, metabolism, and cellular stress pathways. The study suggests that microplastic exposure can trigger broad physiological and molecular disruptions in freshwater fish.

2021 Chemosphere 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of microplastic binding capacity on antioxidant and immune responses of Korean rockfish Sebastes schlegeli in a co-exposure environment with microplastics and Streptococcus iniae

Researchers investigated what happens when Korean rockfish are exposed to both microplastics and the fish pathogen Streptococcus iniae at the same time. They found that microplastics can bind to the bacteria and amplify harmful effects on the fish's antioxidant defenses and immune responses beyond what either stressor causes alone. The findings suggest that microplastic pollution in coastal aquaculture environments may worsen the impact of bacterial infections on fish health.

2025 Chemosphere 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigating microplastics bioaccumulation and biomagnification in seafood from the Persian Gulf: a threat to human health?

Researchers investigated microplastic bioaccumulation and biomagnification in five commercially important seafood species from the Persian Gulf, examining both muscle tissue and gills. They found microplastics present in all species, with evidence suggesting potential trophic transfer through the marine food web. The study estimates that regular consumption of these seafood species could represent a notable pathway for human microplastic exposure in the region.

2019 Food Additives & Contaminants Part A 257 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects on immunity of exposure to microplastics in adult zebrafish

Adult zebrafish exposed to microplastics showed changes in liver gene expression, gut and gill tissue damage, and altered swimming behavior, indicating that microplastic exposure triggers multiple biological stress responses. The study highlights the relevance of zebrafish as a model for assessing microplastic toxicity.

2019 Use Siena air (University of Siena)
Article Tier 2

Environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastics modulated the immune response and swimming activity, and impaired the development of marine medaka Oryzias melastigma larvae

Researchers found that environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastics impaired immune responses, swimming behavior, and larval development in marine medaka fish, demonstrating that even low-level exposure poses ecological risks.

2022 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 30 citations
Article Tier 2

The Immune System in Antarctic and Subantarctic Fish of the Genus Harpagifer Is Affected by the Effects of Combined Microplastics and Thermal Increase

This study examined how rising ocean temperatures and microplastic exposure affect the immune systems of Antarctic and subantarctic fish of the genus Harpagifer, which are particularly vulnerable due to their ecological specialization. Combined climate and MP stress altered immune gene expression, suggesting these fish face compounding threats from global change.

2025 International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Article Tier 2

Size-dependent effects of microplastic on uptake, immune system, related gene expression and histopathology of goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Researchers exposed goldfish to two sizes of polystyrene microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations for 28 days. The study found that microplastics accumulated in gill, liver, and intestine tissues, causing damage that worsened with smaller particle size and higher doses. The results indicate that microplastics trigger oxidative stress and immune responses in fish, with smaller particles posing greater health risks.

2021 Chemosphere 176 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics accumulation in gastrointestinal tracts of Mullus barbatus and Merluccius merluccius is associated with increased cytokine production and signaling

Researchers found microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of red mullet and European hake from the Mediterranean and showed that MP accumulation was associated with elevated production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in gut tissue. The immunotoxic response to ingested MPs suggests that plastic contamination may chronically impair immune function in commercially important fish species.

2022 Chemosphere 54 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Effects of microplastics on the toxicity of co-existing pollutants to fish: A meta-analysis

Meta-analysis of 1,380 biological endpoints from 55 studies found that microplastics in co-existing pollutant solutions significantly increased toxicity to fish beyond what the pollutants caused alone, particularly elevating immune system damage, metabolic disruption, and oxidative stress. The effect depended on fish life stage and microplastic size, but not on pollutant or polymer type.

2023 Water Research 81 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects Of Microplastics On Fish Physiology

This review examines how microplastic exposure affects fish physiology, covering accumulation patterns in different tissues, effects on organ function including liver and gill damage, antioxidant responses, and potential reproductive health consequences from both solo and combined contaminant exposures.

2025 Spectrum of Emerging Sciences
Article Tier 2

Microplastic occurrence in selected aquatic species of the Persian Gulf: No evidence of trophic transfer or effect of diet

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in six fish species, one mollusk, and three crustacean species from the Persian Gulf, finding no evidence of trophic transfer of microplastics or dietary effects on contamination levels across species.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Oxidative stress responses of microplastic-contaminated Gambusia affinis obtained from the Brantas River in East Java, Indonesia

Researchers examined oxidative stress biomarkers in wild Gambusia fish collected from the Brantas River in Indonesia and correlated them with microplastic contamination levels. They found elevated antioxidant enzyme activity in the gills and digestive tracts of fish from more polluted sites, indicating biological stress responses to microplastic exposure. The study provides field-based evidence linking microplastic pollution in tropical rivers to measurable physiological harm in native fish species.

2022 Chemosphere 41 citations