Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Residual Levels of Mercury, Cadmium, Lead and Arsenic in Some Commercially Key Species from Italian Coasts (Adriatic Sea): Focus on Human Health

Researchers assessed mercury, cadmium, lead, and arsenic levels in two commercially important fish species from the Adriatic Sea, finding that while individual metal concentrations were generally below safety thresholds, cumulative exposure from high fish consumption may pose health risks.

2022 Toxics 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Health risk assessment of heavy metals in marine fish caught from the northwest Persian Gulf

Not a microplastics paper — this study measures heavy metal concentrations (nickel, zinc, copper, lead, cadmium) in marine fish from the Persian Gulf and assesses the associated human health risk from fish consumption.

2023 Research Square (Research Square) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigating microplastics bioaccumulation and biomagnification in seafood from the Persian Gulf: a threat to human health?

Researchers investigated microplastic bioaccumulation and biomagnification in five commercially important seafood species from the Persian Gulf, examining both muscle tissue and gills. They found microplastics present in all species, with evidence suggesting potential trophic transfer through the marine food web. The study estimates that regular consumption of these seafood species could represent a notable pathway for human microplastic exposure in the region.

2019 Food Additives & Contaminants Part A 257 citations
Article Tier 2

Accumulation of chemical elements and occurrence of microplastics in small pelagic fish from a neritic environment

Researchers examined chemical element accumulation and microplastic occurrence in small pelagic fish from coastal waters, contributing baseline data on contaminant exposure in mid-trophic level species that are often overlooked in pollution assessments.

2021 Environmental Pollution 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigating a probable relationship between microplastics and potentially toxic elements in fish muscles from northeast of Persian Gulf

Researchers measured microplastic and metal concentrations in the muscles of benthic and pelagic fish species from the northeastern Persian Gulf. They found that microplastic and mercury levels increased with fish size, and estimated that consuming moderate portions of fish weekly provides essential nutrients without significant health risk. The study suggests that while fish remain a beneficial food source, monitoring microplastic and metal co-contamination in seafood is important for consumer safety.

2017 Environmental Pollution 381 citations
Article Tier 2

Heavy Metal Content and Risk Assessment in Trachurus trachurus Investigated from the Marmara Sea

Not relevant to microplastics — this study measures heavy metal concentrations (such as lead, cadmium, and mercury) in Atlantic horse mackerel from the Marmara Sea and assesses associated cancer and non-cancer health risks for consumers.

2023 2 citations
Article Tier 2

A Hazard Index of Microplastics Contamination in Commercial Marine Fish Species and Mussels in the Southern Marmara Sea, Turkey

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in five commercially important fish species and Mediterranean mussels from the southern Marmara Sea in Turkey. They found microplastics in all species examined, with varying levels of contamination across different collection sites, and calculated hazard indices to estimate potential risks. The study provides evidence that seafood consumers in the region may face meaningful dietary exposure to microplastics.

2025 Aquaculture Research 2 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Study on microplastic particles ingestion and the occurrence of related chemical additives in commercial fish species across different habitats of North Aegean Sea

This study examines microplastic ingestion in commercial fish species from the North Aegean Sea, along with chemical additives associated with the plastic particles. Different fish species from various habitats showed varying levels of contamination, suggesting that where and how fish feed affects their microplastic exposure. These findings are relevant to seafood safety since these are species commonly consumed by people.

2024
Article Tier 2

Heavy metals and microplastics in the stomach contents of two fish species: Trachurus trachurus and Zeus faber along the North and Central Atlantic Coast of Morocco

Scientists examined the stomachs of two popular commercial fish species along the Moroccan Atlantic coast and found microplastics in 46% of the fish, mostly in the form of fibers made from polyamide, polystyrene, and acrylic. Heavy metals like mercury, cadmium, and zinc were also detected in 97% of samples, though levels stayed below regulatory limits. While the contamination risk from microplastics was generally low, the study flagged potential health concerns for children who frequently eat these fish.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Mercury Biogeochemistry and Biomagnification in the Mediterranean Sea: Current Knowledge and Future Prospects in the Context of Climate Change

This review examines mercury contamination in the Mediterranean Sea, where fish contain much higher mercury levels than Atlantic species, mainly due to environmental conditions that promote conversion of mercury into its most toxic form. Climate change is expected to worsen the problem by altering the marine food web in ways that increase mercury accumulation in predatory fish like tuna. While focused on mercury, the findings are relevant to microplastics research because microplastics can absorb and transport mercury and other heavy metals through aquatic food chains.

2024 Coasts 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Formulation of a Target Plastic Model to estimate critical plastic burdens of toxicants.

This study created a "Target Plastic Model" to estimate the concentration of toxic chemicals in common plastics at which they would harm aquatic organisms, adapting an established chemical toxicity framework to plastic polymers. The model accurately predicted lethal concentrations for fish exposed to a range of chemicals, offering a new tool for assessing the risks posed by plastic-adsorbed pollutants and improving the design of passive sampling devices used in environmental monitoring.

2023 1 citations
Article Tier 2

The influence of ecological factors in the modulation of pollution biomarkers of two small pelagic marine fish

Researchers examined how ecological factors such as body condition, sex, and season modulate pollution biomarker responses in two small pelagic fish species, finding that biological variability must be accounted for when using hepatic biomarkers to assess marine contamination levels.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance and ecological risk of microplastics in commercial fish species from northeastern Mediterranean Sea

Researchers examined nine commercially important fish species from the northeastern Mediterranean Sea and found microplastics in both their digestive tracts and gills. The most common particles were small polyethylene and polypropylene fibers, and bottom-dwelling fish species had higher contamination levels. While the ecological risk was rated low to medium, the presence of microplastics in widely consumed fish species highlights a potential pathway for human exposure through seafood.

2024 Environmental Pollution 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantification and characterization of microplastics in the Thermaic Gulf, in the North Aegean Sea

Researchers collected and analyzed microplastics from seawater, beach sediments, and seven commercial fish species in the Thermaic Gulf of the North Aegean Sea in Greece. They recorded over 28,000 microplastic particles across all environmental samples, classifying them by size, shape, color, and polymer type. The study adds to the growing evidence that the Mediterranean Sea is heavily affected by microplastic pollution across multiple environmental compartments.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring the Impact of Contaminants of Emerging Concern on Fish and Invertebrates Physiology in the Mediterranean Sea

This study examines how emerging pollutants including pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, pesticides, and microplastics affect marine organisms in the Mediterranean Sea. Researchers used catsharks and mussels as indicator species to measure contamination levels and biological effects. The findings are relevant to human health because contaminated seafood from the Mediterranean is widely consumed across Europe.

2023 Biology 107 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingestion and accumulation of microplastics in small marine fish and potential human exposure: case study of Binh Dinh, Vietnam

Researchers investigated microplastic accumulation in five small marine fish species commonly consumed by coastal communities in Binh Dinh, Vietnam. They found microplastics present in fish from all sampling sites, with seasonal and species-level variation in contamination levels. The study estimates potential human dietary exposure to microplastics through fish consumption and raises food safety concerns for coastal populations relying on local seafood.

2023 Human and Ecological Risk Assessment An International Journal 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Bioaccumulation and Bioremediation of Heavy Metals in Fishes—A Review

This review summarizes how heavy metals accumulate in fish tissues through contaminated water and enter the human food chain, posing serious public health concerns. The paper discusses bioremediation techniques using microorganisms and other methods to remove heavy metals from aquatic environments, which is relevant because microplastics can carry and concentrate these same toxic metals.

2023 Toxics 161 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence, trophic transfer and risk assessment of microplastics in fishery organisms from the Bohai Sea, China

Researchers assessed microplastic occurrence, trophic transfer, and ecological risk in fishery organisms from a coastal area, finding evidence that MPs accumulated with trophic level and that certain commercially harvested species posed elevated risk to human consumers.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Understanding hazardous concentrations of microplastics in fresh water using non-traditional toxicity data

Researchers developed hazard concentration thresholds for microplastics in freshwater using non-traditional toxicity data, accounting for environmentally relevant sizes, shapes, and polymer types to provide more realistic governance standards.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Total Mercury (THg) Content in Red Mullet (Mullus barbatus) from Adriatic Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea): Relation to Biological Parameters, Sampling Area and Human Health Risk Assessment

Total mercury content was measured in muscle tissue of red mullet from 16 sampling pools across the Adriatic Sea, with an overall mean of 0.20 mg per kilogram wet weight. Mercury levels were significantly related to fish size and reproductive stage, and risk assessment indicated that consumption of larger fish from some areas may approach safe intake limits.

2022 Applied Sciences 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Relationship between biological, ecological parameters and microplastic concentration in Mediterranean fish species

Researchers detected and characterized microplastics in five commercially important Mediterranean fish species -- including Mullus barbatus, Sardina pilchardus, and Trachinus draco -- and analyzed how biological parameters (length, weight) and ecological factors (diet, habitat) influenced microplastic contamination levels across species.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

The assessment of the bioaccumulation of microplastics in key fish species from the Bulgarian aquatory of the Black Sea

Researchers examined five commercially important fish species from the Bulgarian Black Sea coast and found microplastics in all tissue types studied. The most common particles were polyethylene and PET pellets, with sizes ranging down to 25 micrometers, indicating widespread plastic pollution in this region that could affect both fish populations and the humans who eat them.

2024 BIORISK – Biodiversity and Ecosystem Risk Assessment 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicokinetic/toxicodynamic-based risk assessment of freshwater fish health posed by microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations

A toxicokinetic/toxicodynamic modeling approach was developed to link microplastic exposure levels to physiological effects in freshwater fish, providing a mechanistic framework for health risk assessment. The model filled a gap between environmental exposure data and ecological risk evaluation for fish populations in microplastic-contaminated freshwaters.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring synergistic contamination of heavy metals and microplastics in marine edible fishes and associated risk status in humans

Researchers assessed heavy metal and microplastic contamination in multiple marine fish species along the Gujarat coastline and found substantial spatial and interspecies variation. Some species exceeded safe metal thresholds, and MP contamination was prevalent, with combined exposure posing amplified health risks for local consumers.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin