Papers

20 results
|
Article Tier 2

Microplastics across biomes in diadromous species. Insights from the critically endangered Anguilla anguilla

Researchers examined microplastic ingestion in young European eels across freshwater and marine environments, finding these critically endangered diadromous fish are exposed to microplastic contamination in both habitats throughout their life cycle.

2022 Environmental Pollution 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Endangered, exploited glass eels (Anguilla anguilla) with critical levels of heavy metals and microplastics reveal both shipping and plastic spill threats

Researchers measured heavy metals and microplastics in endangered European glass eels and the estuarine waters they pass through in the Bay of Biscay region. They found that cadmium levels in eels from all estuaries exceeded legal European limits, and some waterways showed microplastic concentrations above ecotoxicological thresholds. The findings highlight the compounding threats that chemical and microplastic pollution pose to this already critically endangered species.

2025 Environmental Pollution 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Presence of microplastic in the digestive tracts of European flounder, Platichthys flesus, and European smelt, Osmerus eperlanus, from the River Thames

Researchers found microplastics in the digestive tracts of both European flounder and European smelt from the River Thames in London, with occurrence rates reflecting the fish's benthic versus pelagic feeding habits. The study demonstrates that fish in heavily urbanized river systems are exposed to microplastic contamination through their diet.

2016 Environmental Pollution 201 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in commercial marine fish species in the UK – A case study in the River Thames and the River Stour (East Anglia) estuaries

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in three commercially important fish species from UK estuaries, finding that over 41% of fish had ingested at least one microplastic particle. Larger and heavier fish were more contaminated, and the results highlight that humans who eat these common fish species are likely being exposed to microplastics through their diet.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 44 citations
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

Wild gudgeons (Gobio gobio) from French rivers are contaminated by microplastics: Preliminary study and first evidence

Researchers found microplastics in the digestive tracts of wild gudgeons caught from multiple French rivers, with 12% of individuals contaminated. This field study confirms that freshwater fish in European rivers are exposed to real-world microplastic contamination through their natural foraging behavior.

2013 Environmental Research 393 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of microplastics in commercial fish from a natural estuarine environment

Researchers examined the gastrointestinal tracts of commercial fish caught from a natural estuarine environment and found microplastics in a significant proportion of individuals, documenting both occurrence rates and particle characteristics.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 586 citations
Article Tier 2

A systematic study of the microplastic burden in freshwater fishes of south-western Germany - Are we searching at the right scale?

A comprehensive survey of 1,167 freshwater fish from 22 species across 11 rivers and 6 lakes in southwestern Germany found an apparent microplastic prevalence of 18.8%, but particle size analysis revealed that over 95% of particles were likely smaller than the 40 μm detection limit, suggesting true prevalence may reach 100% with an average of ~23 particles per fish. The findings challenge the validity of most existing microplastic surveys in fish, which miss the smallest and most abundant fraction.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 127 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in gudgeons (Gobio gobio) from Flemish rivers (Belgium)

Researchers found microplastic contamination in gudgeons (Gobio gobio) from Flemish rivers in Belgium, contributing early evidence of microplastic ingestion in European freshwater fish and highlighting the need for greater attention to plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems.

2018 Environmental Pollution 139 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in brown trout (Salmo trutta Linnaeus, 1758) from an Irish riverine system

Microplastic prevalence and characteristics were assessed in brown trout (Salmo trutta) from an Irish riverine system to investigate plastic ingestion in a freshwater salmonid. The study found microplastics in a proportion of sampled fish, adding to the limited literature on microplastic ingestion in freshwater salmonids and highlighting rivers as an exposure pathway for these commercially important fish.

2020 Environmental Pollution 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Molecular responses to pollution stress in glass eels (Anguilla anguilla): Gene expression changes associated with varying contamination levels and temperature across estuaries

Researchers measured gene expression in European eel glass eels entering estuaries with varying levels of microplastic and heavy metal contamination, finding that pollution and temperature shifts alter stress-response and metabolic gene expression in ways that may impair survival.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology
Article Tier 2

From the environment into the biomass: microplastic uptake in a protected lamprey species

Researchers investigated microplastic uptake in larvae of a threatened lamprey species by sampling both riverbed sediments and larval tissue in rivers with and without conservation protections. Microplastics were detected in all lamprey and sediment samples, with the most urbanized areas showing the highest counts, though sediment and biological microplastic levels were not directly correlated, suggesting factors like polymer type and larval behavior influence uptake.

2023 Environmental Pollution 15 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

Prevalence of microplastics in commonly consumed fish species of the river Old Brahmaputra, Bangladesh

Researchers found microplastics in nearly 59% of edible fish from Bangladesh's Old Brahmaputra river, with polyethylene fibers and pellets dominating, and ingestion rates linked to fish size, feeding behavior, and downstream location.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 39 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

Microplastic ingestion in fish larvae in the western English Channel

This study found that fish larvae in the western English Channel had ingested microplastics, including fibers and fragments, at early life stages. Because larvae are critical for recruitment success, even sub-lethal plastic exposure during this window could have population-level consequences for commercially important fish species.

2017 Environmental Pollution 443 citations
Article Tier 2

Baseline Study on Microplastic Contamination in Commercial Fish from the Vellar Estuary, South India

This baseline study quantified microplastic contamination in commercial fish from the Vellar Estuary, India, detecting particles in all examined species and characterizing dominant shapes and polymer types to establish a reference for future monitoring.

2024 UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in fishes from an estuary (Minho River) ending into the NE Atlantic Ocean

Wild fish from the Minho River estuary on the NE Atlantic coast were examined for plastic contamination, with 883 plastic particles recovered from 128 fish — 84% were fibers and 97% were microplastics, with the highest contamination found in carp and flounder.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 90 citations
Article Tier 2

Tracking the microplastic pollution in the freshwater environments of southeastern Türkiye: Usage of Unio delicatus, Unio Terminalis and Dreissena polymorpha as bioindicators of microplastics

This study examined microplastic contamination in three freshwater mussel species collected from rivers and a dam lake in southeastern Turkey, finding relatively low average concentrations (under 1 microplastic per individual) but confirming that these mussels do accumulate plastic particles from their surroundings. Because mussels are filter feeders with a fixed lifestyle, they reflect local pollution levels well, making them useful sentinels for tracking microplastic contamination in freshwater ecosystems. The research adds to growing evidence that microplastics are now present even in inland freshwater species far from the ocean.

2025 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and characteristics of microplastics in fish of the Han River, South Korea: Factors affecting microplastic abundance in fish

Microplastics were detected in 106 fish from 22 species at three sites in South Korea's Han River, with an average of 16-20 particles per individual and downstream sites showing the highest contamination, reflecting greater human activity and urban inputs near the river mouth.

2021 Environmental Research 57 citations