Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

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.

2020 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 53 citations
Article Tier 2

Adverse effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus and their association with gut microbiota dysbiosis

Researchers used multiple advanced techniques to study how polystyrene nanoplastics affect sea cucumbers, an important aquaculture species. They found that nanoplastic exposure disrupted the animals' gut microbiome, triggered inflammation, and impaired immune function. The study suggests that nanoplastic pollution in aquaculture environments could harm the health of commercially farmed marine species.

2023 Chemosphere 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Existence 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.

2021 Chemosphere 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Temporal stability and assembly mechanisms of gut microbiota in sea cucumbers response to nanoplastics treatment

Researchers studied how nanoplastic ingestion affects the gut microbiota of sea cucumbers (Apostichopus japonicus), an important aquaculture species. The study found that exposure to nanoplastics at concentrations of 100 and 500 mg/kg caused significant changes in gut microbial community composition after 21 days, suggesting potential impacts on the health of farmed marine organisms.

2023 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 6 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Microplastics occurrence in sea cucumbers and impacts on sea cucumbers & human health: A systematic review

This systematic review found that microplastics are ubiquitous in sea cucumber ecosystems, with high concentrations in coastal sediments where these deposit feeders live. Some studies report that microplastic ingestion reduces sea cucumber feeding efficiency, alters behavior, and causes tissue damage, raising concerns for both ecosystem health and human consumers of this seafood.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 9 citations
Article Tier 2

The impacts of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics (mPETs) on ecosystem functionality in marine sediment

Researchers found that PET microplastics disrupted key ecosystem functions in marine sediments over a 31-day experiment, impairing nutrient cycling and the activity of bivalves and microphytobenthos. The results suggest that even moderate concentrations of microplastics can harm the ecological services provided by seafloor communities.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 26 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2025 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Bioaccumulation of functionalized polystyrene nanoplastics in sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka, 1867) and their toxic effects on oxidative stress, energy metabolism and mitochondrial pathway

This study investigated how different types of polystyrene nanoplastics accumulate in sea cucumbers and affect their health. Researchers found that nanoplastics built up in the animals' tissues and caused oxidative stress, disrupted energy metabolism, and damaged mitochondrial function. The findings suggest that the surface chemistry and size of nanoplastics influence how toxic they are to marine organisms.

2023 Environmental Pollution 44 citations
Article Tier 2

The toxicity of microplastics and their leachates to embryonic development of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus

Researchers tested the toxicity of PVC microplastics and the chemicals they leach on sea cucumber embryos and larvae. They found that both the particles and their leachates harmed embryo development and larval growth in a dose- and time-dependent manner, but the leachates were actually more toxic per unit concentration. The study suggests that the chemicals released from microplastics may pose even greater risks to marine organisms than the physical particles themselves.

2023 Marine Environmental Research 24 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 Heliyon 24 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2018 Environmental Pollution 194 citations
Article Tier 2

Evidence of size-dependent toxicity of polystyrene nano- and microplastics in sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka, 1867) during the intestinal regeneration

Sea cucumbers exposed to polystyrene particles of different sizes for 30 days showed that nanoplastics (80 nm) accumulated more in intestinal tissue and caused greater harm than larger microplastics. The nanoplastics disrupted cell growth, immune function, and triggered oxidative damage through different biological pathways than the larger particles. Since sea cucumbers are a harvested seafood, this raises concerns about nanoplastic contamination in marine food sources.

2024 Environmental Pollution 13 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 Journal of Coastal and Ocean Sciences
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics exposure simplifies the network structure of sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) gut microbiota and improves cluster randomness

Researchers exposed sea cucumbers to nanoplastics and found that the particles significantly reduced the diversity and stability of their gut bacteria, shifting the microbial community toward potentially harmful species. The good news is that after 35 days in clean water, the gut microbiome largely recovered to its pre-exposure state. The study reveals that while nanoplastic exposure disrupts the gut health of marine animals, some recovery is possible once the exposure stops.

2024 Environmental Pollution 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Single and combined effects of microplastics and cadmium on the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus

Researchers examined the individual and combined toxic effects of cadmium and microplastics on sea cucumbers. The study found that cadmium was the primary driver of negative effects including reduced growth, digestive enzyme suppression, and disruption of gut microbiota, but the presence of microplastics increased cadmium's toxicity when both pollutants were present at high concentrations.

2023 Marine Environmental Research 23 citations
Clinical Trial Tier 1

Adverse effects of dietary virgin (nano)microplastics on growth performance, immune response, and resistance to ammonia stress and pathogen challenge in juvenile sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka)

Dietary polystyrene nano- and microplastics significantly reduced growth in juvenile sea cucumbers, caused oxidative stress, and suppressed immune and ammonia detoxification responses, with 100 nm nanoplastics proving more toxic than 20 µm microplastics in a size-dependent manner.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 60 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics alter digestive enzyme activities in the marine bivalve, Mytilus galloprovincialis

Researchers incubated Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) with polystyrene and polyethylene microplastics and measured changes in digestive enzyme activity, finding significant reductions in amylase and protease activity, suggesting that microplastics impair nutrient digestion in filter-feeding bivalves.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 125 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Fate of Microplastic Fibers in the Coelomic Fluid of the Sea Cucumber Apostichopus japonicus

Microplastic fibers were found to enter the coelomic fluid of sea cucumbers and move between internal tissues, suggesting that these commercially important marine animals can internalize and redistribute microplastics throughout their bodies.

2022 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 5 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 2 citations
Article Tier 2

PET microplastics toxicity on marine key species is influenced by pH, particle size and food variations

Researchers tested the toxicity of PET microplastics on marine bacteria, algae, and sea urchin larvae under standard and acidified pH conditions. The study found that while bacteria and algae were not sensitive to PET pollution, sea urchin larvae experienced toxic effects that varied with particle size and were influenced by pH and food availability. The results suggest that interactions between microplastics and environmental stressors like ocean acidification need more attention to understand real-world impacts.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 145 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics affect the growth of sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus intermedius) and damage gut health

Researchers exposed sea urchins to nanoplastics at two concentrations for 28 days and found significant reductions in growth rates and digestive enzyme activity. The nanoplastics caused visible damage to intestinal tissue and altered gut bacterial community composition, with several bacterial groups appearing exclusively in exposed animals. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure can harm marine invertebrates by disrupting both digestive function and gut microbial balance.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Interactive effects between sinking polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics deriving from water bottles and a benthic grazer

Sea urchins exposed to PET microplastics in their diet efficiently passed the particles through their digestive tract without significant tissue damage or oxidative stress, and their digestion slightly altered the surface structure of PET particles. The study suggests sea urchins are relatively resilient to PET microplastic exposure but may contribute to plastic fragmentation on the seafloor through their grazing activity.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 46 citations