Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Deleterious Effects of Polypropylene Microplastic Ingestion in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Researchers fed Nile tilapia daily doses of polypropylene microplastics for 30 days and observed significant health effects including changes in blood cell counts, altered gut bacteria, and tissue damage to the intestines and liver. The higher dose group showed more pronounced effects, including elevated inflammatory markers and signs of oxidative stress. The study provides evidence that chronic ingestion of microplastics commonly found in aquatic environments can cause meaningful harm to a widely consumed fish species.

2023 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in aquaculture - Potential impacts on inflammatory processes in Nile tilapia

Researchers fed Nile tilapia a diet containing a mixture of four common microplastics and found that the particles triggered inflammatory responses in both adult and juvenile fish. The microplastics activated immune pathways and caused tissue changes in the gut and other organs, with juveniles being more sensitive. Since tilapia is one of the most widely farmed fish in the world, these findings raise concerns about the safety of farm-raised fish exposed to microplastic-contaminated water.

2024 Heliyon 10 citations
Clinical Trial Tier 1

Effects of Microplastics on the Oxygen Consumption and Histological Changes of the Cultured Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

This study found that microplastic exposure caused tissue damage in the gills and intestines of tilapia fish, with higher concentrations leading to more severe changes. Since tilapia is widely consumed worldwide, these findings raise questions about whether microplastics in farmed fish could affect the quality and safety of the seafood on our plates.

2024 Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicological assessment of dietary exposure of polyethylene microplastics on growth, nutrient digestibility, carcass and gut histology of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings

Researchers fed Nile tilapia fish diets containing different amounts of polyethylene microplastics and found that higher levels significantly reduced growth, nutrient absorption, and body composition. Fish exposed to the highest microplastic concentration (10%) showed severe gut damage visible under a microscope. Since tilapia is widely farmed for human consumption, these findings raise concerns about microplastic contamination affecting both fish health and the safety of farmed seafood.

2024 Ecotoxicology 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Histological and Histochemical Effects of Microplastics Administration in Oreochromis niloticus Fingerlings

Researchers exposed Nile tilapia to two types of microplastics and examined histological and histochemical changes in gills, liver, and kidneys, finding tissue-level damage that demonstrates the harmful effects of microplastic ingestion on vital fish organs.

2023 Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences. D, Histology and Histochemistry 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of Toxicological Risks and Effects of Microplastics on Nile Tilapia (Oreochromisniloticus) under in Vitro Laboratory Conditions

This laboratory study evaluated the toxicological effects of microplastics on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) under controlled conditions, finding measurable harm at the concentrations tested. The results have implications for managing fish health in aquaculture operations with microplastic-contaminated water.

2023 East African Journal of Biophysical and Computational Sciences 4 citations
Article Tier 2

‘The Plastic Nile’: First Evidence of Microplastic Contamination in Fish from the Nile River (Cairo, Egypt)

Researchers provided the first evidence of microplastic contamination in fish from the Nile River in Cairo, Egypt, finding that over 75% of sampled Nile tilapia and catfish contained microplastics in their digestive tracts, with fibers and fragments being the dominant particle types.

2020 Toxics 107 citations
Article Tier 2

Correlation of Water Quality with Microplastic Exposure Prevalence in Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Researchers exposed tilapia to polyethylene microplastics at three concentrations and assessed effects on water quality and microplastic accumulation in gastrointestinal, liver, gill, and gonad tissues, finding that higher concentrations were associated with elevated microplastic prevalence and tissue-specific accumulation patterns.

2021 E3S Web of Conferences 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Antioxidants and molecular damage in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) after exposure to microplastics

Researchers exposed juvenile Nile Tilapia to different concentrations of microplastics for 15 days followed by a recovery period. The study found dose-dependent increases in oxidative stress markers, DNA fragmentation, and altered protein patterns in fish exposed to microplastics. Evidence indicates that while fish exposed to the lowest concentration recovered after the treatment ended, higher doses caused more persistent damage.

2020 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 192 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment the effect of exposure to microplastics in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) early juvenile: I. blood biomarkers

Researchers exposed juvenile Nile tilapia to different concentrations of microplastics for 15 days followed by a 15-day recovery period and measured blood biomarkers. They found dose-dependent changes in biochemical and hematological parameters, including elevated liver enzymes, altered blood cell counts, and increased glucose levels. Many of these effects persisted even after the recovery period, suggesting that microplastic exposure can cause lasting physiological stress in young freshwater fish.

2019 Chemosphere 258 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic pollution in fish (O. niloticus and C. gariepinus) in a Nile Canal, Delta of Egypt.

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in the gastrointestinal tracts of 127 Nile tilapia and 32 African catfish from a Nilotic canal in Egypt's Delta, finding microplastic occurrence rates of 33.9% and 59.4% respectively with fibers as the dominant morphology. The study analyzed the relationship between microplastic ingestion and fish biological parameters, feeding habits, and seasonal variation.

2023 Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries 3 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

Occurrence of Microplastics in the Tissues of Nile Tilapia (Orechromis niloticus) from Zobe Dam, Katsina State, Nigeria

This study found microplastics in the tissues of Nile tilapia cultured in freshwater, with particles identified in gills, intestines, and muscle tissue. The results highlight the potential for microplastic transfer from farmed fish to human consumers.

2024 Sahel Journal of Life Sciences FUDMA 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Comprehensive understanding the impacts of dietary exposure to polyethylene microplastics on genetically improved farmed tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): tracking from growth, microbiota, metabolism to gene expressions

Researchers investigated the impacts of dietary polyethylene microplastics on genetically improved farmed tilapia over nine weeks, tracking effects on growth, gut microbiota, liver metabolism, and gene expression. The study found that microplastic exposure altered gut microbial communities, disrupted liver metabolic processes, and affected gene expression in brain and liver tissues. The findings suggest that microplastic contamination in fish feed and aquatic environments poses risks to farmed fish health.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 53 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of dietary polyvinylchloride, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate exposure in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus: Bioaccumulation, and effects on behaviour, growth, hematology and histology

Nile tilapia fish fed three common types of microplastics (PVC, polypropylene, and PET) showed reduced growth, abnormal behavior, blood cell damage, and tissue damage in their gills, liver, and intestines. The harmful effects increased with higher doses of microplastics and varied by plastic type. Since tilapia is one of the most widely consumed fish globally, these findings raise concerns about the health of fish that may carry microplastic contamination to human diets.

2024 Environmental Pollution 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Biochemical, Genotoxic and Histological Implications of Polypropylene Microplastics on Freshwater Fish Oreochromis mossambicus: An Aquatic Eco-Toxicological Assessment

Researchers fed polypropylene microplastics to freshwater tilapia and found they caused oxidative stress, DNA damage, and liver tissue deterioration, with more severe effects after 14 days compared to acute 96-hour exposure. The microplastics disrupted antioxidant enzyme systems and neurotransmitter activity in the fish. The study demonstrates that prolonged microplastic ingestion poses a significant ecological threat to freshwater fish species.

2023 Toxics 57 citations
Article Tier 2

Integrated Biomarker, Histopathological and Genotoxicity‐Based Toxicological Evaluation of Polystyrene and Polyethylene Microplastics in Oreochromis mossambicus

Researchers exposed Mozambique tilapia to polystyrene and polyethylene microplastics and found dose-dependent accumulation in gill, gut, and liver tissues. Polyethylene proved significantly more toxic, causing greater oxidative stress, metabolic disruption, and chromosomal damage as measured by micronucleus assays. The study provides evidence that different polymer types can have markedly different toxicological impacts on freshwater fish.

2025 Journal of Applied Toxicology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

How do fish consume microplastics? An experimental study on accumulation pattern using Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Researchers fed Nile tilapia in controlled lab conditions to study how microplastics accumulate in fish organs. They found that most microplastics came from the fish feed rather than from particles floating in the water, and that the digestive tract accumulated the most particles while muscles, the part humans typically eat, contained the smallest sizes. Twelve different polymer types were identified across the fish tissues.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Do microplastics pose health hazard?: A laboratory study by Oreochromis niloticus

Researchers used Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in a tank-based experiment to quantify microplastic accumulation and assess health risk using a total polymer risk index. The study found elevated health risk levels in fish exposed to environmental concentrations of MPs, suggesting risks extending to human consumers.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Plastics
Article Tier 2

Growth performance, hematological and oxidative stress responses in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to polypropylene microplastics

Nile tilapia fish fed polypropylene microplastics for 7 weeks showed significantly reduced growth, blood abnormalities indicating anemia, and oxidative stress damage in both liver and brain tissue. The effects were dose-dependent, with higher microplastic concentrations causing more severe harm. Since tilapia is one of the most widely farmed and consumed fish globally, these findings raise concerns about the health of both farmed fish and the people who eat them.

2024 Environmental Quality Management 15 citations