Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Seasonal monitoring of microplastic pollution in the Southeast Black Sea: An example of red mullet (Mullus barbatus) gastrointestinal tracts

Researchers found seasonal variation in microplastic occurrence in the gastrointestinal tracts of red mullet (Mullus barbatus) from the Southeast Black Sea, with the highest counts detected in winter and autumn, and fibers as the predominant shape across all seasons.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 14 citations
Article Tier 2

First Report of Microplastic Ingestion and Bioaccumulation in Commercially Valuable European Anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus, Linnaeus, 1758) from the Romanian Black Sea Coast

Researchers conducted the first assessment of microplastic contamination in European anchovies from the Romanian Black Sea coast. They found that 88% of the fish contained microplastics, averaging about three plastic items per fish, which is the highest abundance reported for this species in the Black Sea. The study highlights growing concerns about microplastic accumulation in commercially important fish species and the potential for human dietary exposure.

2025 Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingestion of microplastics and occurrence of parasite association in Mediterranean anchovy and sardine

Scientists quantified microplastic ingestion in European sardines and anchovies from the Northwestern Mediterranean, finding 58–60% occurrence rates and noting that parasite infection was negatively associated with microplastic presence, suggesting shared ecological or physiological factors.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 91 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingestion of microplastics by commercial fish species from the southern Black Sea coast

Three commercial fish species from the Turkish Black Sea coast -- European anchovy, whiting, and red mullet -- were examined for microplastic ingestion, with plastics found in all three species and fibers being the dominant type. The study adds to regional evidence that microplastic contamination is widespread in commercially harvested Black Sea fish.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 55 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingestion and elimination of anthropogenic fibres and microplastic fragments by the European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) of the NW Mediterranean Sea

Researchers found that 30–40% of European anchovies in the Ligurian Sea had ingested anthropogenic microparticles, primarily plastic fibers and fragments, with most fish containing only a single particle — suggesting relatively short retention times in the gut. The study found that larger plastic fragments may become trapped in the intestinal lumen, raising concerns about how long plastics and their associated toxins remain in commercially harvested fish.

2020 Marine Biology 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic ingestion and egestion by copepods in the Black Sea

Researchers assessed microplastic ingestion and excretion by copepods in the Black Sea for the first time, alongside measuring plastic pollution in the water column. They found microplastics at all sampling stations, with the highest concentrations near river mouths, and confirmed that copepods actively ingest and excrete these particles. The findings suggest that microplastic contamination is widespread in the Black Sea and is entering the base of the marine food web.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 102 citations
Article Tier 2

Contamination from microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in the digestive tracts of the commercial species Engraulis encrasicolus and Sardina pilchardus

Researchers examined the presence of microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in the digestive tracts of European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) and European pilchard (Sardina pilchardus) sampled along the continental shelf of Spain, finding bioaccumulation of particles across these commercially important fish species with implications for food web contamination and human health.

2022
Article Tier 2

Contamination from microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in the digestive tracts of the commercial species Engraulis encrasicolus and Sardina pilchardus

Researchers examined the presence of microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in the digestive tracts of European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) and European pilchard (Sardina pilchardus) sampled along the continental shelf of Spain, finding bioaccumulation of particles across these commercially important fish species with implications for food web contamination and human health.

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

Occurrence and potential effects of plastic ingestion by pelagic and demersal fish from the North Sea and Baltic Sea

Researchers examined the occurrence and potential effects of plastic ingestion in pelagic and bottom-dwelling fish from the North Sea and Baltic Sea, finding plastics in both groups. The study contributed to baseline knowledge of microplastic ingestion rates in commercially important fish species in European seas.

2014 Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar-und Meeresforschung (Alfred-Wegener-Institut) 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract of pelagic and demersal fish from the English Channel

Researchers examined the gastrointestinal tracts of both pelagic and demersal fish species and found microplastics in individuals from both groups, suggesting that microplastic ingestion occurs across fish species regardless of their position in the water column.

2012 Marine Pollution Bulletin 1993 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigation of Microplastic Accumulation in Horse Mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus) Caught in the Black Sea

Horse mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus) caught from Turkish coastal waters were found to contain microplastics in their gastrointestinal tracts, with fibers and fragments the most common types. The study contributes to baseline data on microplastic contamination in commercially important Mediterranean fish species.

2022 Journal of Anatolian Environmental and Animal Sciences 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Seasonal distributions of microplastics and estimation of the microplastic load ingested by wild caught fish in the East China Sea

Researchers found seasonal variation in microplastic abundance in the Zhoushan fishing ground in the East China Sea, with polyethylene terephthalate being the dominant polymer in both water and fish gastrointestinal tracts across a year-long sampling period from 2017 to 2018.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in commercial fish and their habitats in the important fishing ground of the Black Sea: Characteristic, concentration, and risk assessment

Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in six commercial fish species from the Black Sea and found microplastics in all environmental areas studied, including surface water, the water column, sediments, and fish. Fibers were the most common type of microplastic found, and bottom-dwelling fish had higher contamination levels than fish living closer to the surface. Since these are commonly eaten fish species, the findings are relevant to human dietary exposure to microplastics.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of four most consumed fish species in Giresun, the Southeastern Black Sea

Researchers examined four commonly eaten fish species from the Black Sea coast of Turkey and found microplastics in the digestive tracts of all four species. Bottom-dwelling fish had higher microplastic concentrations than surface-dwelling species, likely because microplastics settle and accumulate in sediments. Since these are popular commercial fish species, the findings underscore a direct route of microplastic exposure for seafood consumers in the region.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic ingestion by pelagic and demersal fish from the North Sea and Baltic Sea

Researchers examined gastrointestinal tracts of 290 North and Baltic Sea fish and detected plastic in 5.5% of individuals, with pelagic species like herring and mackerel ingesting plastic at three times the rate of bottom-dwelling cod and flounder, and polyethylene making up nearly 40% of identified polymer types.

2015 Marine Pollution Bulletin 618 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of biological and environmental factors on microplastic ingestion of commercial fish species

Researchers analyzed microplastic ingestion in commercially important fish species, evaluating how biological and environmental factors influence ingestion rates across 2,222 individual fish. The study assessed gastrointestinal tract contents to determine the extent and patterns of microplastic contamination. The findings suggest that both species-specific biology and environmental conditions play important roles in determining microplastic ingestion levels in commercial fish.

2022 Chemosphere 62 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic uptake and gut retention time in Japanese anchovy (Engraulis japonicus) under laboratory conditions

Researchers found that adult Japanese anchovy selectively ingested 0.3-mm microplastics over 0.85-mm particles based on size but showed no color preference, and that over 90% of ingested microplastics were excreted within 20 hours, suggesting limited retention and accumulation under natural feeding conditions.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Contamination from microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in the digestive tracts of the commercial species Engraulis encrasicolus and Sardina pilchardus

Researchers examined microplastic and anthropogenic particle contamination in the digestive tracts of European anchovies and sardines from Spanish waters, finding widespread ingestion of synthetic particles in these commercially important fish species.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Presence of Microplastics in some commercial fish species in the northern Oman Sea, Iran

Researchers examined microplastic occurrence in the gills, gastrointestinal tracts, and skin of five commercial fish species from the northern Oman Sea in Iran across pre-monsoon and monsoon periods, finding species- and season-dependent variation in microplastic type and abundance.

2025 University of Southern Denmark Research Portal (University of Southern Denmark)
Article Tier 2

Seasonality influences microplastic occurrence in cultured European flat oyster

Researchers monitored microplastic occurrence in cultured European flat oysters across seasons, finding that seasonal variation in water quality and phytoplankton abundance influenced microplastic uptake. Oyster contamination levels fluctuated significantly by season, with implications for food safety monitoring.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Contamination from microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in the digestive tracts of the commercial species Engraulis encrasicolus and Sardina pilchardus

Researchers compiled a dataset of microplastics and anthropogenic particles found in the stomach contents of anchovy and sardines in the Gulf of Cadiz (Europe), recording particle characteristics alongside fish biometric data, geographic coordinates, and distances to major river mouths and coastal cities.

2022 DIGITAL.CSIC (Spanish National Research Council (CSIC))
Article Tier 2

Contamination from microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in the digestive tracts of the commercial species Engraulis encrasicolus and Sardina pilchardus

Researchers compiled a dataset of microplastics and anthropogenic particles found in the stomach contents of anchovy and sardines in the Gulf of Cadiz (Europe), recording particle characteristics alongside fish biometric data, geographic coordinates, and distances to major river mouths and coastal cities.

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

Microplastic ingestion by pelagic and benthic fish and diet composition: A case study in the NW Iberian shelf

Researchers found microplastics in 78% of fish examined across four pelagic and benthic species from the NW Iberian shelf, with ingestion rates varying by feeding ecology and habitat depth, and identified predominantly fibers and fragments in gastrointestinal contents following alkaline tissue digestion.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 97 citations
Article Tier 2

Marine litter in stomach content of small pelagic fishes from the Adriatic Sea: sardines (Sardina pilchardus) and anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus)

Researchers examined marine litter and microplastics in the stomach contents of sardines (Sardina pilchardus) and anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus) from the Adriatic Sea across seasons in 2013-2014, finding marine litter in over 90% of samples from both species. Ingestion levels were correlated with species, season, and fish biometry, underscoring the widespread contamination of small pelagic fish at the base of Mediterranean food webs.

2018 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 140 citations