Papers

61,005 results
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Clinical Trial Tier 1

The Effect of Exposure to Polystyrene Microplastics in Feed on the Growth of Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

This study exposed tilapia fish to polystyrene microplastics mixed into their feed at different concentrations. The results showed that microplastic exposure negatively affected the growth and development of the fish. This is relevant to human health because tilapia is a widely consumed fish, and microplastics accumulating in farmed fish could be passed along to the people who eat them.

2024 Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Sub-chronic exposure of Oreochromis niloticus to environmentally relevant concentrations of smaller microplastics: Accumulation and toxico-physiological responses

Researchers exposed Nile tilapia to low, environmentally relevant concentrations of polystyrene microplastics for 14 days and found the particles accumulated in multiple organs including the brain, liver, and reproductive tissues. The fish showed changes in blood chemistry, increased stress hormones, and signs of liver and kidney dysfunction. These results suggest that even realistic levels of microplastic pollution can cause measurable physiological harm in fish.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 42 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics exposure in freshwater fish, Labeo rohita: evaluation of physiology and histopathology

Researchers fed freshwater fish varying levels of polystyrene microplastics for 90 days and found dose-dependent damage to blood health, growth, and organ tissues. Higher microplastic concentrations caused more severe harm to the liver, kidneys, gills, and intestines. The study highlights that microplastics in freshwater systems can accumulate in fish and cause significant health problems, raising concerns about food safety for communities that rely on freshwater fish.

2025 Scientific Reports 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of sub-chronic polystyrene nanoplastics exposure on hematology, histology, and endoplasmic reticulum stress-related protein expression in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Researchers exposed Nile tilapia to polystyrene nanoplastics for an extended period and found the particles caused blood cell changes, tissue damage in the liver and gills, and activated stress responses in cellular structures called the endoplasmic reticulum. Even the lowest concentration tested, which matches levels found in the environment, triggered harmful effects. Since tilapia is one of the most consumed farmed fish worldwide, these results highlight potential food safety concerns from nanoplastic contamination in aquaculture.

2024 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 13 citations
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

Accumulation, tissue distribution, and biochemical effects of polystyrene microplastics in the freshwater fish red tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Researchers exposed freshwater tilapia to polystyrene microplastics at varying concentrations for two weeks and tracked where the particles accumulated in the body. The microplastics concentrated primarily in the gut and gills, but also reached the liver and brain, with accumulation increasing over time and at higher doses. The study found that the particles caused oxidative stress and altered enzyme activity in the fish, indicating that even short-term microplastic exposure can trigger measurable biological harm in freshwater species.

2018 Environmental Pollution 723 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

Polystyrene microparticles can affect the health status of freshwater fish – Threat of oral microplastics intake

Researchers fed juvenile rainbow trout polystyrene microplastics at three dietary concentrations for six weeks and assessed multiple health parameters. They found that the highest concentration triggered immune responses, liver and gill damage, disrupted antioxidant balance, and reduced plasma proteins. The study demonstrates that oral microplastic intake can negatively affect the health of freshwater fish across multiple organ systems.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of polystyrene microplastics on the antioxidant system and immune response in GIFT (Oreochromis niloticus)

Farmed tilapia exposed to polystyrene microplastics of different sizes showed elevated oxidative stress and immune inflammation markers, particularly in the brain, compared to unexposed fish. The findings suggest chronic microplastic exposure can impair immune defenses in commercially important freshwater fish, raising concerns for both aquaculture and wild fisheries.

2023 Research Square (Research Square) 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of Polystyrene Microplastics on the Antioxidant System and Immune Response in GIFT (Oreochromis niloticus)

Researchers exposed farmed tilapia to polystyrene microplastics of various sizes and found that smaller particles caused more oxidative stress and stronger immune responses. Fish exposed to nanometer-sized plastics showed higher levels of reactive oxygen species and inflammatory markers compared to those exposed to larger particles. The study suggests that the size of microplastics matters significantly when evaluating their impact on fish health.

2023 Biology 16 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

Nano polystyrene microplastics could accumulate in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): Negatively impacts on the intestinal and liver health through water exposure

Researchers exposed Nile tilapia fish to polystyrene microplastics of different sizes (ranging from 80 nanometers to 80 micrometers) and found that the smallest particles were most likely to accumulate in the body. The 80-nanometer particles caused the most severe damage to intestinal and liver tissues, disrupting cell growth and triggering inflammation and oxidative stress. The study suggests that nanoscale plastic particles may pose greater health risks to fish than larger microplastics.

2023 Journal of Environmental Sciences 39 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

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

Impacts of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to microplastics in bioflocs system

Researchers assessed the effects of polystyrene microplastics on Nile tilapia raised in a bioflocs aquaculture system over 28 days. While the microplastics did not significantly affect water quality, fish growth, or digestive enzymes, they accumulated most heavily in the liver and increased markers of oxidative stress. The findings suggest that even in biofloc systems rich in beneficial microbes, microplastics can still accumulate in fish organs and cause subtle biological harm.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 20 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

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
Article Tier 2

Toxicological effects of nano- and micro-polystyrene plastics on red tilapia: Are larger plastic particles more harmless?

Researchers exposed red tilapia to three sizes of polystyrene particles (0.3, 5, and 70-90 micrometers) to compare their toxic effects. The study found that the largest particles showed the highest accumulation in tissues, but all sizes induced oxidative stress, disrupted cytochrome P450 enzymes, caused neurotoxicity, and altered metabolic profiles, indicating that even smaller nanoplastics can cause significant harm to fish.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 253 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingestion and the toxicological effects of virgin polyethylene (PE) and polyvinylchloride (PVC) microplastics in commercial freshwater fish, tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Researchers exposed tilapia to polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride microplastics through their diet over 21 days and observed behavioral changes, mortality, and reduced growth rates. The study suggests that ingestion of common microplastic types can impair the health and survival of commercially important freshwater fish, with implications for aquaculture and food safety.

2025 Fish Physiology and Biochemistry 1 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

Physiological Reactions of Poecilia Reticulyata to the Presence of Microplastics in the Aquatic Environment

A study found that guppies exposed to low concentrations of microplastics showed physiological stress responses, including changes in blood cell counts and gill condition, suggesting even small doses can harm freshwater fish.

2023 Water bioresources and aquaculture
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

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

Ecotoxicological effects of low-density polyethylene microplastic on Heteropneustes fossilis: behavioral, hematological, biochemical, and histopathological impacts

Scientists exposed freshwater fish to tiny plastic particles (microplastics) from everyday items like plastic bags and found they caused serious health problems including blood disorders, organ damage, and weakened immune systems. The higher the amount of plastic particles, the worse the damage became to vital organs like gills, intestines, and liver. This matters because these same microplastics are found throughout our food chain and water supply, raising concerns about potential health risks for humans who consume contaminated fish and water.

2026 Frontiers in Aquaculture