Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Evidence for non-selective ingestion of microplastic in demersal fish

Researchers found that 54% of demersal fish stomachs in Hong Kong contained microplastics across five species, with no significant difference between species, wild versus farmed fish, or locations, suggesting non-selective ingestion, though fish near the Pearl River showed higher contamination frequency.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 90 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Geographical and ecological factors affect microplastic body burden in marine fish at global scale

This systematic review analyzed microplastic levels found in marine fish worldwide and identified key factors driving contamination. Fish from areas with heavy human activity contained more microplastics, and since many of these species are eaten by people, this contamination represents a direct route of human exposure through seafood.

2024 Environmental Pollution 18 citations
Article Tier 2

The presence of microplastics in fishes of South Maldives

Researchers found microplastics in the gut, gills, and flesh of two fish species collected from South Maldives, with 80% of one species containing plastic particles, indicating widespread ingestion by reef fish in this remote island nation and potential transfer into the human food chain.

2022 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics and retention of microplastics in the digestive tracts of fish from the Yellow Sea

Researchers systematically characterized microplastics in 19 fish species from the Yellow Sea coast of China, finding plastic retention in 34% of individual fish sampled, with fibers dominating and significant variation in microplastic load by species and habitat.

2019 Environmental Pollution 138 citations
Article Tier 2

The pervasiveness of microplastic contamination in the gastrointestinal tract of fish from the western coast of Bangladesh

Researchers found microplastics in every individual fish examined from the western coast of Bangladesh, with an average of 7.1 particles per specimen, and demersal species accumulating more microplastics than pelagic species near the world's largest mangrove ecosystem.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic prevalence in marine fish from onshore Beibu Gulf, South China Sea

Researchers examined 271 fish across 32 species from the Beibu Gulf and found microplastics in the majority of samples, with fibers being the most common type and abundance varying by species, feeding habits, and habitat.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in commercial fishes from estuarine areas of Guangdong, South China

Researchers analyzed the abundance, characteristics, and spatial distribution of microplastics in six commercial fish species from estuarine areas of Guangdong, South China, providing quantitative data on microplastic ingestion in fish from one of China's most plastic-polluted coastal regions.

2020 Chemosphere 88 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

Widespread microplastic ingestion in Colombian Caribbean marine fish: Trophic influence, spatial-temporal trends, and polymer composition

Researchers examined three commercially important fish species from the Colombian Caribbean and found microplastics in over 82% of individuals across both continental and island waters. Fiber and fragment shapes were the most common types, with higher concentrations found in coastal areas and during the wet season. The findings suggest that microplastic ingestion is widespread among Caribbean fish, with potential implications for seafood consumers in the region.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance and Distribution of Microplastics in Fish by Trophic Level in Kupang Bay, Indonesia

Researchers surveyed microplastic abundance in fish from Kupang Bay, Indonesia across herbivore and carnivore trophic levels and multiple organs (GIT, gills, muscle), finding carnivores accumulated more microplastics than herbivores and gills showed the highest concentrations.

2025 Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries
Article Tier 2

Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in commercial marine fish from Malaysia

Microplastics were found in the digestive tracts of eight commercially important marine fish species caught in Malaysian waters, with prevalence and particle types varying by species and location. The study raises food safety concerns for Malaysian seafood consumers and highlights the widespread occurrence of microplastic ingestion in wild-caught fish from Southeast Asian seas.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 270 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence, distribution and characteristics of microplastics in gastrointestinal tract and gills of commercial marine fish from Malaysia

Researchers examined 158 commercial marine fish from 16 species in Malaysia and found microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts and gills of all species studied. Fibers were the most common microplastic type, and the contamination levels varied between sampling locations. The findings add to growing evidence that microplastics are widespread in commercially important fish species, raising questions about the potential for human exposure through seafood consumption.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 140 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

Low level of microplastic contamination in wild fish from an urban estuary

Researchers found low levels of microplastic contamination in 26 wild fish species from the Pearl River Estuary, South China, with abundance and polymer composition varying by species feeding strategy and habitat depth, suggesting that estuarine fish exposure depends substantially on ecological niche.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 63 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

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

Deposition characteristics of microplastics in coral reef fish with different feeding habits from the Xisha Islands Waters, South China Sea

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in the gills and gastrointestinal tracts of 96 coral reef fish from the South China Sea, finding that nearly 98% of sampled fish contained microplastics. Fibers were the most common shape, with most particles smaller than 1 mm, and the predominant polymers were PET, PE, and PP. The study found that herbivorous fish had higher microplastic content than omnivorous or carnivorous species, likely because they feed primarily on microplastic-polluted coral reefs.

2025 Journal of Environmental Management 7 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

Microplastic Accumulationin Hong Kong’s MarineSediment: Spatial Pattern and Potential Sources

Researchers conducted a comprehensive survey of microplastics in marine sediments across Hong Kong, finding uneven distribution with abundance ranging from near zero to high levels in urbanized areas. Source analysis pointed to household waste, fishing activity, and stormwater runoff as primary contributors.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in freshwater fish: first insights from the Mekong River in Nakhon Phanom Province, Thailand

Researchers found microplastics in 100% of 89 fish gastrointestinal tracts sampled from the Mekong River in Thailand, averaging 23.76 items per individual, with fragments being the dominant shape (83%), particles under 100 µm the most common size, and 17 polymer types identified across species.

2025 Ecologica Montenegrina