Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Comparison of microplastic intake in two fish species from different functional feeding groups in Europe's second-largest river

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in two fish species — bleak and round goby — along a 1,716 km transect of the Danube River using standardized sampling protocols. MPs were detected in both species across the entire river length, with contamination levels varying by species and location.

2025 Chemosphere
Article Tier 2

Isolation of Microplastics from Freshwater Macroinvertebrates in the Danube River

Researchers isolated microplastics from three freshwater species — mollusks, worms, and midge larvae — collected from the Danube River during a major scientific survey. Using different organism types as biological monitors showed that microplastic contamination is widespread in the river's aquatic ecosystem.

2022 Facta Universitatis Series Medicine and Biology 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantitative and qualitative analysis of microplastic pollution in a large European river

Researchers sampled the Budapest reach of the Danube River at multiple water column depths using a Multilevel Manta net, finding an average microplastic concentration of 0.311 mg/m³ (142 particles/m³) dominated by polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene fragments, and estimating substantial microplastic mass flux that underscores the Danube's role as a major transport pathway for plastic pollution.

2026 Frontiers in Water
Article Tier 2

Evidence of microplastic contamination in Alosa immaculata fish from the Lower Danube River

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in the guts and gills of pontic shad (Alosa immaculata) caught from the lower Danube River, finding an average of 1.35 microplastic particles per fish in the digestive tract and 0.5 particles per fish in the gills. The dominant plastics were polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyester — common packaging and textile materials — confirming that river fish in Eastern Europe are routinely ingesting plastic debris.

2025
Article Tier 2

Two decades of plastic exposure in freshwater fishes from Romania

Researchers reviewed two decades of microplastic contamination records in freshwater fish from Romania, finding increasing prevalence over time across multiple species and identifying ingestion, trophic transfer, and bioaccumulation as the primary exposure pathways.

2025 Preprints.org
Article Tier 2

The first spatio-temporal study of the microplastics and meso–macroplastics transport in the Romanian Danube

This study measured microplastic transport in the Romanian section of the Danube River over multiple seasons, estimating up to 51 tonnes of microplastics flow through per year. Polyethylene and polypropylene were the most common types, and concentrations varied with seasonal water flow. Since the Danube supplies drinking water and supports fisheries for millions of people, this contamination level raises concerns about human exposure.

2024 Environmental Sciences Europe 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Uptake in Fishes from Crișul Repede River (Bihor County, Romania): A Preliminary Study

Researchers found that 100% of fish caught from a Romanian river had tiny plastic particles in their stomachs, with larger fish containing more plastic pieces than smaller ones. These microplastics can move up the food chain from fish to humans when we eat them, potentially causing health problems. This study shows how widespread plastic pollution has become in our waterways and food supply.

2026 Fishes
Article Tier 2

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.

2021 Journal of Environmental Management 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplasic measurements at the Danube river using a multi-level approach

Researchers measured microplastics in the Danube River using multiple sampling approaches at different scales, confirming that microplastics are present throughout the water column. Finer-scale analysis consistently revealed more particles than coarser methods. The findings support the use of multi-level sampling strategies to accurately assess microplastic contamination in major river systems.

2023 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in freshwater fish from Central European lowland river (Widawa R., SW Poland)

More than half of gudgeon and roach fish collected from a small Polish river had ingested microplastic-like particles, with no significant difference by sex, feeding behavior, or location relative to a dam. The findings suggest microplastic ingestion by freshwater fish is widespread and not driven by a single local source.

2020 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 57 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment on Microplastics Contamination in Freshwater Fish: a Case Study of the Ubolratana Reservoir, Thailand

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in freshwater fish from the Ubolratana Reservoir, Thailand, finding that 96.4% of 14 examined species had ingested microplastics, and assessed abundance, size, colour, and shape of particles from stomach and intestinal contents across sampling stations.

2021 International Journal of Geomate 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in freshwater ecosystems: what we know and what we need to know

This review examines the state of knowledge on microplastic contamination in freshwater ecosystems, which have received far less scientific attention than marine environments despite being major pathways for plastic transport. Researchers found that freshwater microplastic concentrations can be extremely high near urban areas and that organisms from insects to fish readily ingest these particles. The study identifies key research gaps including the need for standardized detection methods and better understanding of how microplastics move through and affect freshwater food webs.

2014 Environmental Sciences Europe 1468 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Austrian rivers

This German-language review summarizes published research on microplastic contamination in Austrian rivers, with a focus on the Danube. The paper compares findings across studies, identifies methodological inconsistencies, and recommends improvements to sampling and identification approaches for future river microplastic monitoring.

2020 FH JOANNEUM ePUB
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

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

Characterization and enumeration of microplastic pollution in three fish species of the Upper Mississippi River

Researchers found 891 microplastic particles across 281 fish from three species in the Upper Mississippi River, with fibers being the most common type and smaller fish containing proportionally more microplastics than larger ones. This confirms microplastic ingestion is widespread in freshwater fish — not just marine species — and the presence of styrene-isoprene, polyester, and ABS polymers highlights the diverse plastic sources contaminating major river systems.

2023 Minds at UW (University of Wisconsin)
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

Impacts of Microplastics as Contaminants in Freshwater Ecosystems and Human Food Chain

This review examines the impacts of microplastics on freshwater ecosystems and human food chains, tracing how plastic particles enter rivers and lakes, accumulate in fish and invertebrates, and transfer to humans through consumption of contaminated freshwater species.

2025
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and exposure analysis of microplastic in the gut and muscle tissue of riverine fish in Kermanshah province of Iran

Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in the gut and muscle tissue of fish from the Qarasu River in Iran, finding microplastics in all species examined. The estimated human dietary intake through fish consumption was calculated at approximately 174 and 127 particles per kilogram of body weight per year for adults and children respectively, highlighting the potential for microplastic exposure through food.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 52 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplasts in Freshwater Fish – Problems and Challenges

This review examines microplastic contamination of freshwater fish, covering ingestion evidence from over 150 species, the mechanisms of accumulation in gastrointestinal and other tissues, potential health impacts, and challenges in standardizing quantification methodologies.

2025 Journal Scientific and Applied Research
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and Impacts of Microplastics in Freshwater Fish

This review summarizes research on microplastic occurrence in freshwater fish across multiple regions, examining ingestion rates, polymer types, and potential health effects. The authors highlight that freshwater fish are widely exposed to microplastics and call for more standardized monitoring to assess risks to fish and to people who eat them.

2017 Journal of Aquaculture & Marine Biology 63 citations
Article Tier 2

Sedimentary microplastic concentrations from the Romanian Danube River to the Black Sea

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in sediments along the Danube River through the Danube Delta and into the Black Sea, finding that some isolated areas of the Delta still had relatively few plastic particles. The study helps clarify how microplastics move from major rivers into the ocean, an important step for estimating global ocean plastic loads.

2021 Scientific Reports 100 citations
Article Tier 2

Hydrodynamic Observations on Microplastic Abundances and Morphologies in the Danube Delta, Romania

This study measured microplastic abundance and morphology in fluvial and lake environments of the Danube Delta in Romania, finding microplastics distributed throughout the system. The findings show that the Danube Delta — an important biodiversity hotspot — receives significant microplastic inputs from the river.

2021 AgroLife Scientific Journal 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic occurrence in coastal waters and aquatic faunas of the Western Black Sea

Researchers assessed microplastic occurrence in coastal waters and aquatic fauna of the Western Black Sea region receiving Danube River inputs, characterizing MP distributions in a coastal ecosystem under pressure from tourism, fishing, regional conflicts, and inadequate waste disposal across the Danube basin.

2024