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Papers
61,005 resultsNatural and Regenerated Cellulosic Microfibers Dominate Anthropogenic Particles Ingested by Commercial Fish Species from the Adriatic Sea
Researchers examined what commercial fish species from the Adriatic Sea are actually swallowing and found that natural and regenerated cellulose microfibers, rather than synthetic plastics, dominated the particles in their digestive tracts. While synthetic microplastics like polyester and nylon were present, they made up only a fraction of the total fibers ingested. The study highlights the importance of distinguishing between synthetic microplastics and natural textile fibers when assessing marine pollution.
Distribution and characterization of microplastic particles and textile microfibers in Adriatic food webs: General insights for biomonitoring strategies
A comprehensive study of the Adriatic Sea food web found microplastic particles and textile microfibers present across multiple trophic levels including fish, invertebrates, and zooplankton, with fibers being especially prevalent. The results support using certain species as bioindicators for monitoring microplastic contamination in coastal marine ecosystems.
Comparative study on microplastic abundance in fish organs from marine and freshwater ecosystems of the southern Baltic Sea region: influence of habitat zone and feeding preferences
Researchers found microplastics in 58% of 500 fish specimens examined across Baltic Sea and northern Polish freshwater ecosystems, with carnivorous and benthic species showing the highest contamination levels and blue fibers being the most common particle type across all habitats.
Microplastic occurrence in the gastrointestinal tract and gill of bioindicator fish species in the northeastern Mediterranean
Four commercial fish species from the northeastern Mediterranean were examined for microplastic presence in gastrointestinal tracts and gills, with plastics found in all species and fiber being the most common type. The results add to growing evidence that microplastic ingestion is routine for commercially harvested Mediterranean fish.
A study on textile microfiber contamination in the gastrointestinal tracts of Merluccius merluccius samples from the Tyrrhenian Sea
Researchers assessed textile microfiber contamination in the gastrointestinal tracts of European hake from the Tyrrhenian Sea. The study found widespread synthetic microfiber ingestion in this commercially important fish species, highlighting the extent to which microplastic pollution from synthetic textiles is entering marine food webs.
Microplastics occurrence in edible fish species (Mullus barbatus and Merluccius merluccius) collected in three different geographical sub-areas of the Mediterranean Sea
Researchers examined the gastrointestinal tracts of 229 demersal fish from two Mediterranean species across three geographic sub-areas, finding microplastics in a significant portion of individuals with fibers as the dominant type. The study contributes to growing evidence that microplastic ingestion is widespread in commercially fished Mediterranean species.
Occurrence and characterization of microplastic content in the digestive system of riverine fishes
Researchers found microplastics in 93.8% of riverine fish examined, with polystyrene, polyethylene, and nylon being the most common polymer types concentrated near urban and industrial areas, and small particles (0.025-1 mm) predominating across species.
Characteristics and retention of microplastics in the digestive tracts of fish from the Yellow Sea
Researchers systematically characterized microplastics in 19 fish species from the Yellow Sea coast of China, finding plastic retention in 34% of individual fish sampled, with fibers dominating and significant variation in microplastic load by species and habitat.
Ingestion of microplastics by commercial fish off the Portuguese coast
Researchers examined the digestive tracts of commercial fish caught off the Portuguese coast and found microplastics — mainly fibers — in a substantial proportion of individuals across multiple species.
Screening for microplastics in gastrointestinal tract of sea bream (Sparus aurata) from the Northern Adriatic
Researchers screened the gastrointestinal tracts of commercially important sea bream (Sparus aurata) from the Northern Adriatic for microplastic contamination, sampling fish during autumn and spring spawning periods and digesting intestines in potassium hydroxide solution. They found 77 microplastic particles in autumn and 17 in spring, with fibers being the most common morphology.
Occurrence of microplastics in commercial fish from a natural estuarine environment
Researchers examined the gastrointestinal tracts of commercial fish caught from a natural estuarine environment and found microplastics in a significant proportion of individuals, documenting both occurrence rates and particle characteristics.
The Occurrence of Natural and Synthetic Fibers in the Marine Environment
This study examined the occurrence of both natural and synthetic textile microfibers across marine environments including sea ice, deep sea sediments, and coastal waters. Researchers found that microfibers are the most commonly reported type of microplastic particle in ocean surveys worldwide, often accounting for 80-90% of all counts, and have been detected in the digestive systems of numerous marine species.
Microplastic and artificial cellulose microfibers ingestion by reef fishes in the Guarapari Islands, southwestern Atlantic
Reef fish from the southwestern Atlantic were found to have ingested microplastics and artificial cellulose microfibers, with six species showing particularly high ingestion rates and fiber types dominating over hard plastic fragments.
Cellulosic and microplastic fibers in the Antarctic fish Harpagifer antarcticus and Sub-Antarctic Harpagifer bispinis
Researchers found microfibers in the digestive tracts of 89 percent of Antarctic fish and 73 percent of sub-Antarctic fish examined. While most fibers were cellulose from clothing, synthetic microplastics including polyester and acrylics were also present. The study points to laundry wastewater from research stations as a major source of fiber pollution in Antarctic waters, showing that human activity contaminates even the most remote marine food webs.
Microplastic fibers in the gut of highly consumed fish species from the southern Caspian Sea
Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in the guts of three highly consumed fish species from the southern Caspian Sea. They found that fibers were the only shape of microplastics detected, with leaping mullet showing the highest frequency, and that black-colored polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate were the dominant polymer types across all species.
A meta-analysis of the characterisations of plastic ingested by fish globally
This meta-analysis pools data from global studies to assess what types of plastic fish most commonly ingest, finding that microfibers and small fragments dominate across both freshwater and marine species. These findings are important for human health because widespread plastic ingestion by fish means that microplastics are likely present in much of the seafood consumed around the world.
Detection of fibrous microplastics and natural microfibers in fish species (Engraulis encrasicolus, Mullus barbatus and Merluccius merluccius) for human consumption from the Tyrrhenian sea
Scientists examined the gut contents of three popular fish species from the Tyrrhenian Sea sold in markets and found microfibers in all of them. While natural and artificial fibers were the most common, synthetic plastic fibers including polyester were also present. Since these are fish people regularly eat, the study highlights seafood as a pathway for human microplastic exposure and calls for better standardized methods to assess the risk.
Ingestion of microplastics and natural fibres in Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum, 1792) and Engraulis encrasicolus (Linnaeus, 1758) along the Spanish Mediterranean coast
Microplastics and natural fibers were found in the digestive tracts of European sardines and anchovies collected from 14 stations along the Spanish Mediterranean coast, with microplastics present in about 15% of individuals. The study documents widespread but variable microplastic ingestion in two commercially important small pelagic fish species that are key components of Mediterranean food webs and human diets.
Toward an Improved Understanding of the Ingestion and Trophic Transfer of Microplastic Particles: Critical Review and Implications for Future Research
A comprehensive review of over 800 species found that while microplastics are routinely found in the digestive tracts of aquatic organisms, they do not appear to bioaccumulate or biomagnify through food webs, with over 99% of observations locating particles in the gastrointestinal tract rather than tissues. The review calls for more standardized sampling and reporting to enable better temporal and spatial trend analysis.
Microplastic contamination in large migratory fishes collected in the open Atlantic Ocean
Researchers found microplastic contamination in large migratory fish collected during a circumnavigation of the Atlantic Ocean, with all seven commercially important species containing microplastics predominantly as fibers in their gastrointestinal tracts.
Contamination from microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in the digestive tracts of the commercial species Engraulis encrasicolus and Sardina pilchardus
Researchers examined microplastic and anthropogenic particle contamination in the digestive tracts of European anchovies and sardines from Spanish waters, finding widespread ingestion of synthetic particles in these commercially important fish species.
Microplastics abundance in four different species of commercial fishes in Bali Strait
Four commercially important fish species in the Bali Strait, Indonesia all contained microplastics in their gastrointestinal tracts, with fragments and fibers being most common. As these fish are widely consumed, this raises concerns about microplastic transfer to humans through the seafood supply chain.
Microplastic contamination in thirty commercially important fish species: Distribution, polymer composition, pollution indices, and human health risks
Researchers examined microplastic contamination in 600 specimens across 30 commercially important fish species from the Indian coast, finding the highest accumulation in the gastrointestinal tract with carnivorous species carrying the greatest burden. Polyethylene and polypropylene fibers were the dominant particle types, and human health risk assessment showed measurable daily intake from consuming these fish, with pollution indices indicating considerable to medium hazard risk levels.
Identification of the composition and abundance of microplastics in the digestive tract of fish in the Banjaran River, Banyumas District
Researchers identified and quantified microplastic composition and abundance in digestive tract contents of wild-caught fish from a coastal fishery, documenting ingestion rates, polymer types, and particle morphologies across multiple commercially important species.