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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Microplastics occurrence in sea cucumbers and impacts on sea cucumbers & human health: A systematic review
ClearExistence of microplastics in the edible part of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus
Researchers demonstrated that microplastics can transfer into the edible body wall of sea cucumbers (Apostichopus japonicus), entering through the outer surface and potentially posing a threat to human health through seafood consumption.
Plastic litter transfer from sediments towards marine trophic webs: A case study on holothurians
Sea cucumbers collected from the seafloor around a Sicilian island were found to contain microplastics in their bodies, having ingested them while feeding on sediment. Since sea cucumbers are consumed as food in many cultures, this represents a direct pathway for microplastic exposure in humans.
Types and Abundance of Microplastics in the Digestive Tract of Cucumbers in Banyak Island, Aceh Singkil
Researchers examined the digestive tracts of sea cucumbers from Banyak Island, Indonesia, identifying microplastic types and quantities ingested by these organisms in a coastal area affected by community plastic waste.
Preliminary study of microplastics content in the digestive tract of sea cucumber from Demak Waters
Sea cucumbers collected from Demak Waters, Indonesia, were found to contain microplastics in their digestive tracts. Since sea cucumbers are eaten raw in many cultures, this finding raises direct concerns about human microplastic exposure through seafood consumption.
Potential harmful impacts of micro- and nanoplastics on the health of a tropical sea cucumber, Holothuria leucospilota, evidenced by changes of gut microflora, histology, immune and oxidative indexes
Scientists exposed tropical sea cucumbers to both nano-sized and micro-sized plastic particles and found that both caused gut damage, altered the gut microbiome, triggered oxidative stress, and disrupted immune function. Notably, the smaller nanoplastics had stronger effects than the larger microplastics, and plastic particles were observed accumulating in the gut tissue.
Evaluation of microplastics isolated from sea cucumber Acaudina molpadioides in Pulau Langkawi, Malaysia
Researchers examined sea cucumbers from Langkawi, Malaysia and found over 1,600 microplastic particles in their digestive tracts, with fibers making up more than 99% of the contamination. The most common polymer types identified were polyethylene and polymethyl methacrylate, with the majority of particles falling in the smallest size ranges. The findings raise concerns about potential human exposure to microplastics through seafood consumption.
The density of microplastic in sea cucumber (Holothuria sp.) and sediment at Tidung Besar and Bira Besar island, Jakarta
Sea cucumbers from Jakarta's Tidung Besar and Bira Besar islands were found to contain microplastics in their tissues, with concentrations correlated to levels in surrounding sediments. Because sea cucumbers ingest sediment while feeding, they accumulate microplastics in proportion to local environmental contamination.
Evaluation of Microplastics Ingested by Sea Cucumber Holothuria Scabra from Pulau Jambongan, Sabah
Researchers found 7,403 microplastic particles in the digestive tracts of 30 sea cucumbers (Holothuria scabra) collected from a Malaysian island, with 99% being fibers and the dominant polymer being polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The high contamination level indicates significant marine pollution in the region and shows that bottom-dwelling sea cucumbers — which process large volumes of sediment — are especially exposed to microplastic accumulation. This is relevant to seafood safety since sea cucumbers are commercially harvested for human consumption.
Effect of PET microplastics on the growth, digestive enzymes, and intestinal flora of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus
Researchers studied how PET microplastics of different sizes and concentrations affect sea cucumbers over a 28-day period. They found that microplastic exposure disrupted digestive enzyme activity and altered the composition of gut bacteria in the animals. The study suggests that microplastic pollution in marine environments could impair the health and digestion of important seafloor organisms even at environmentally relevant levels.
Microplastic ingestion in the black sea cucumber Holothuria leucospilota (Brandt, 1835) collected from Rambut Island, Seribu Islands, Jakarta, Indonesia
Scientists found microplastics inside sea cucumbers collected from Indonesian coastal waters near Jakarta, with plastic particles concentrated in the intestines. Sea cucumbers are sediment-feeding bottom dwellers, making them useful indicators of microplastic contamination on the seafloor.
Effect of chronic exposure to microplastic fibre ingestion in the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus
Sea cucumbers (Apostichopus japonicus) were chronically exposed to microplastic fibers to evaluate effects on growth and physiology over time. The study found that microfiber ingestion affected the sea cucumbers' health, with implications for echinoderm populations in habitats where microfibres are the dominant microplastic shape.
Chemical fingerprint of plastic litter in sediments and holothurians from Croatia: Assessment & relation to different environmental factors
Sea cucumbers from Croatian island sediments contained microplastics and semi-synthetic fibers, showing that these benthic animals ingest particles from the seafloor. As sea cucumbers are a commercially harvested species, their contamination has direct implications for human dietary exposure to microplastics.
Spatial distribution of microplastics ingested by Holothuria atra (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) in the tourism and marine mariculture development zone, Karimunjawa, Indonesia
Researchers examined microplastics ingested by sea cucumbers (Holothuria atra) in Karimunjawa, Indonesia, finding an average of 14,166 particles per individual, predominantly fibers, with polymer types including polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene linked to local hydrodynamic patterns.
The Occurrence and Characteristics of Microplastics in Seawater Surface and Sea Cucumber (Holothuria atra and Holothuria edulis) at Similan and Surin Islands (Andaman Sea), Thailand
This study investigated microplastics in surface seawater and two sea cucumber species (Holothuria atra) at Similan Islands, Thailand, finding MPs in both the water and organism tissues. Sea cucumbers accumulated MPs consistent with their filter-feeding behavior, and plastic presence raised food safety concerns for species entering the seafood trade.
The sea cucumber Holothuria tubulosa does not reduce the size of microplastics but enhances their resuspension in the water column
Researchers found that the Mediterranean sea cucumber Holothuria tubulosa does not reduce the size of ingested microplastics through digestive processing, but instead enhances their resuspension into the water column via pseudofeces, meaning these bioturbators may redistribute rather than sequester microplastics in marine sediments.
Microplastic ingestion by the farmed sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus in China
Sea cucumbers farmed along China's Bohai and Yellow Seas were found to ingest microplastics, with particles also detected in their coelomic fluid — suggesting internal translocation beyond the gut. The findings indicate farmed sea cucumbers may serve as useful sentinels for monitoring sediment microplastic pollution at aquaculture sites.
Microplastic abundance in sea cucumber at seagrass ecosystem of Bintan Island and surrounding area, Indonesia
Researchers found microplastic contamination in sea cucumbers across seagrass ecosystems of Bintan Island, Indonesia, with the highest abundance of 52 particles/individual recorded in Pengudang waters, and fiber-type microplastics dominating at 84 particles/individual across all three harvested species.
Evaluation of microplastics ingested by sea cucumber Stichopus horrens in Pulau Pangkor, Perak, Malaysia
Researchers examined microplastic ingestion by sea cucumbers (Stichopus horrens) collected from a Malaysian island, finding MPs in all sampled individuals and identifying fibers and fragments as the most common types, consistent with local fishing and aquaculture activity.
Microplastics in canned, salt-dried, and instant sea cucumbers sold for human consumption
Researchers tested canned, instant, and salt-dried sea cucumbers purchased from Chinese markets and found microplastics present in the products, with an average of about 1.4 particles per individual animal. The particles were mostly small fibers, and polypropylene was the dominant polymer type identified. The study estimates that regular consumers of sea cucumber products could be exposed to microplastics through their diet, though the daily intake levels were relatively low.
Mechanism underlying the toxicity of the microplastic fibre transfer in the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus
Researchers investigated how microplastic fibers enter and move through sea cucumbers (Apostichopus japonicus), finding that fibers ingested via the respiratory tree entered the coelomic fluid and triggered immune cell responses, and that fiber characteristics — particularly length — determined the severity of tissue damage.
The effect of chronic microplastic exposure on the growth, biochemical responses, and histological changes of the juvenile sea cucumber Holothuria scabra
Researchers exposed juvenile sea cucumbers to polymethylmethacrylate microplastics over 60 days and observed significant negative effects on growth, biochemical responses, and tissue structure. The study found dose-dependent impacts, with higher microplastic concentrations causing greater reductions in weight gain and more pronounced histological damage to the animals' organs.
Microplastics abundance in sea cucumber Holothuria scabra from Pulau Malawali, Sabah, Malaysia
Researchers measured microplastic abundance in sea cucumbers (Holothuria scabra) from Pulau Malawali in Sabah, Malaysia, finding microplastic particles in all examined specimens. Fibres were the dominant particle type, and concentrations were similar to those reported for sea cucumbers in other tropical regions, confirming widespread microplastic exposure in this commercially important species.
Levels and oxidative toxicity of microplastics and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in different tissues of sea cucumber (Holothuria tubulosa)
Researchers found microplastics (mainly polyethylene and polypropylene) in both the gut and internal fluids of sea cucumbers, confirming that these particles can cross from the digestive tract into body tissues. The microplastics were linked to increased oxidative stress, a type of cell damage. Since sea cucumbers are eaten as food in many cultures, this contamination could be a route of microplastic exposure for humans.
Assessing microplastic ingestion and occurrence of bisphenols and phthalates in bivalves, fish and holothurians from a Mediterranean marine protected area
Researchers assessed microplastic contamination and plastic-related chemicals in bivalves, fish, and sea cucumbers from a Mediterranean marine protected area. Sea cucumbers that feed on sediment contained the most microplastics, while bivalves accumulated the highest levels of chemical plasticizers like bisphenols and phthalates. The study shows that even organisms in protected marine areas are exposed to significant microplastic and plasticizer contamination.