Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Evidence of microplastic contamination in the food chain: an assessment of their presence in the gastrointestinal tract of native fish

Researchers found microplastics, mainly polyethylene and polypropylene, in the guts of fish from the Swat and Kabul rivers in Pakistan. These rivers are primary freshwater sources for the region, and the contaminated fish are regularly consumed by local communities. The findings confirm that freshwater fish from polluted rivers are a pathway for microplastic exposure in people's diets.

2024 Italian Journal of Food Science 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics abundance in abiotic and biotic components along aquatic food chain in two freshwater ecosystems of Pakistan

Researchers quantified microplastic abundance across multiple trophic levels in two Pakistani freshwater ecosystems, finding evidence of bioaccumulation along the food chain from water and sediment through invertebrates to fish species.

2022 Chemosphere 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Eco Toxicological Assessment of Micro Plastic Ingestion in Freshwater Fishes: A Case Study on Bioaccumulation and Histopathological Alterations

Researchers assessed microplastic accumulation in three freshwater fish species (tilapia, rohu, catla) from a major river system, finding microplastics in gastrointestinal tracts and associated histopathological damage in gills, liver, and kidneys.

2025 Asian Journal of Research in Zoology
Article Tier 2

First Evidence of Microplastic Ingestion by Riverine Fish From the Freshwater of Northwest Peninsular Malaysia

Researchers found microplastics in the guts of multiple fish species from two rivers in northwest Malaysia, with some species averaging nearly 50 microplastic particles per gram of body weight. The dominant particles were fibers and fragments of polyethylene and polypropylene — findings that signal widespread contamination of freshwater food sources and raise concerns about human exposure through fish consumption.

2024 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance, characteristics and variation of microplastics in different freshwater fish species from Bangladesh

Researchers examined 48 freshwater fish from 18 species in Bangladesh and found microplastics in the digestive tracts of over 73% of the fish studied. Fibers were the most common shape, and the plastics were primarily polyethylene and polypropylene-based polymers. Bottom-dwelling fish contained more microplastics than those living higher in the water column, suggesting that contaminated sediments are a significant source of exposure for freshwater species.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 220 citations
Article Tier 2

Preliminary Observation on Microplastic Contamination in the Scombridae Species From Coastal Waters of Pakistan

Researchers found microplastics in the digestive systems and gills of six Scombridae fish species collected from coastal waters near Karachi, Pakistan, providing preliminary evidence of microplastic contamination in commercially important marine fish from the region.

2022 Marine Science and Technology Bulletin 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodiversity, distributions and isolation of microplastics pollution in finfish species in the Panjkora River at Lower and Upper Dir districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan

Researchers documented fish biodiversity and microplastic pollution across 10 sites in the Panjkora River, Pakistan, collecting 724 fish specimens representing 18 species across 5 families and characterizing microplastic contamination in fish tissues, with Cyprinidae dominating the community and microplastics detected throughout the sampling area.

2022 Brazilian Journal of Biology 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution in Indigenous Fish From the Padma River, Bangladesh: A Case Study

Researchers examined indigenous fish species from the Padma River in Bangladesh and found microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of all species studied, with fibers being the dominant type. The abundance and types of microplastics varied across species, reflecting differences in feeding habits and habitat. The findings highlight the widespread presence of microplastic contamination in an important inland waterway and its potential impact on food security in the region.

2025 Aquaculture Research 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance, characteristics, and risk assessment of microplastics in indigenous freshwater fishes of India

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in five widely consumed freshwater fish species from India and found plastic particles in all specimens, with fibers being the most dominant type. Evidence of microplastics in edible fish tissue indicates translocation from the gut, suggesting a pathway for human exposure through consumption. Risk assessment showed that while microplastic abundance posed a low quantitative risk, the polymer types identified indicated a high hazard potential for the fish species studied.

2022 Environmental Research 48 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Different Tissues of Five Common Fishes from Yuehai Lake: Accumulation, Characterization, and Contamination Assessment

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in the gills and digestive tracts of five fish species from a Chinese lake, finding that fish eating a wider variety of foods accumulated more particles. Different plastic polymer types dominated in different tissues, confirming that microplastics move through freshwater food webs and reach fish that humans consume.

2025 Malaysian Journal of Chemistry
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Ingestion by Fishes from Jamuna River, Bangladesh

Freshwater fish from the Jamuna River in Bangladesh were examined for microplastic ingestion, finding plastics in a high proportion of individuals across multiple species. The study provides early evidence of freshwater microplastic contamination in Bangladesh and highlights the Jamuna River as a significant conduit for plastic pollution.

2022 Environment and Natural Resources Journal 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Tissue-specific accumulation and species-level variability of microplastics in four freshwater fish from the Dez River, Iran

Researchers measured microplastic contamination in four commercially important fish species from the Dez River, Iran, finding tissue-specific accumulation patterns that varied by species, with gills accumulating more particles than intestines or muscle across all four species.

2025 International journal of aquatic biology
Article Tier 2

Characterization of Microplastics in Gastointestinal Tracts of Some Selected Fish Species in Akhalia River, Fulbaria, Mymensingh

Researchers found microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of three freshwater fish species — Channa punctatus, Macrognathus armatus, and Anabas testudineus — collected from the Akhalia River in Bangladesh, documenting the abundance, distribution, and characteristics of ingested particles.

2025 Journal of Agroforestry and Environment
Article Tier 2

Pervasive Microplastic Ingestion by Commercial Fish Species from a Natural Lagoon Environment

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in the gastrointestinal tracts and gills of commercial fish species from a natural lagoon environment. Microplastics were found across all species examined, with fiber morphotypes dominant and contamination levels reflecting the lagoon's proximity to human activity and plastic pollution sources.

2024 Water 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of Microplastics in the Gastrointestinal Tracts of Edible Fishes from South Indian Rivers

Researchers isolated and characterized microplastics from the gastrointestinal tracts of five edible fish species collected from the Kollidam and Vellar rivers in Tamil Nadu, Southern India. They found 315 microplastic particles across 23 fish, dominated by fibers (85.7%) in Kollidam river fish and fragments (14.3%) in Vellar river fish, with particle sizes ranging from 109 to 284 µm, indicating widespread dietary exposure to microplastics in commercially harvested freshwater fish.

2022 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Determination of Microplastic in Selected Freshwater Fish Species from Agriculture Fishpond in Tanjong Karang, Selangor, Malaysia

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in twelve freshwater fish species from aquaculture fishponds in Tanjong Karang, Selangor, Malaysia, using visual examination of gastrointestinal tract contents. Microplastics were detected in 29.2% of fish samples, with prevalence varying by feeding zone, a rate higher than previously documented in comparable regional studies.

2023 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Risk assessment of microplastics in fish assemblage based on ecological preferences in an interconnected and polluted river system

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination across 15 fish species with different feeding habits in Pakistan's River Ravi, finding that bottom-dwelling and omnivorous fish accumulated more microplastics, with contamination levels posing ecological risk.

2023 Human and Ecological Risk Assessment An International Journal 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Baseline biomonitoring of microplastic pollution in freshwater fish from the Chishui River, China: Insights into accumulation patterns and influencing factors

This first-ever biomonitoring study of the Chishui River in China found microplastics in all 31 fish species examined, with an average of about 240 particles per gram in both gills and intestines. Bottom-dwelling fish accumulated significantly more microplastics than those swimming near the surface, and the fish contained twice as many plastic polymer types as were found in the surrounding water and sediment. The widespread contamination of freshwater fish with microplastics raises concerns about human exposure through fish consumption.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Contamination of microplastics in Brantas River, East Java, Indonesia and its distribution in gills and digestive tracts of fish Gambusia affinis

Researchers sampled water, gills, and digestive tracts of fish in Indonesia's Brantas River and found microplastics in all three, with fragments under 0.1 mm making up the majority — demonstrating that river fish are actively ingesting microplastics that then accumulate in their bodies.

2021 Emerging contaminants 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment and quantification of microplastic contamination in fishes with different food habits from Beel wetlands

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in fish from freshwater wetlands in India, finding particles in the digestive tracts of all 90 fish sampled across different feeding types. Carnivorous fish accumulated the most microplastics, followed by omnivores and then herbivores, suggesting trophic transfer plays a role. The most common particles were fibers in the 100 to 500 micrometer size range, with polyethylene and nylon as the dominant polymer types.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 6 citations