Papers

20 results
|
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

Occurrence of Microplastics in the Gastrointestinal Tracts of Edible Fishes from South Indian Rivers

Researchers isolated and characterized microplastics from the gastrointestinal tracts of five edible fish species collected from the Kollidam and Vellar rivers in Tamil Nadu, Southern India. They found 315 microplastic particles across 23 fish, dominated by fibers (85.7%) in Kollidam river fish and fragments (14.3%) in Vellar river fish, with particle sizes ranging from 109 to 284 µm, indicating widespread dietary exposure to microplastics in commercially harvested freshwater fish.

2022 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic occurrence in the gastrointestinal tract and gill of bioindicator fish species in the northeastern Mediterranean

Four commercial fish species from the northeastern Mediterranean were examined for microplastic presence in gastrointestinal tracts and gills, with plastics found in all species and fiber being the most common type. The results add to growing evidence that microplastic ingestion is routine for commercially harvested Mediterranean fish.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 73 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

Abundance, characteristics, and risk assessment of microplastics in indigenous freshwater fishes of India

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in five widely consumed freshwater fish species from India and found plastic particles in all specimens, with fibers being the most dominant type. Evidence of microplastics in edible fish tissue indicates translocation from the gut, suggesting a pathway for human exposure through consumption. Risk assessment showed that while microplastic abundance posed a low quantitative risk, the polymer types identified indicated a high hazard potential for the fish species studied.

2022 Environmental Research 48 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization and spatial distribution of microplastics in two wild captured economic freshwater fish from north and west rivers of Guangdong province

Microplastics were found in two economically important freshwater fish species sampled across Guangdong Province, China, with fibers being the most common type and polypropylene and polyester the dominant polymers. The widespread contamination of commercial freshwater fish in China indicates a significant pathway for human exposure through fish consumption.

2020 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance, characteristics and variation of microplastics in different freshwater fish species from Bangladesh

Researchers examined 48 freshwater fish from 18 species in Bangladesh and found microplastics in the digestive tracts of over 73% of the fish studied. Fibers were the most common shape, and the plastics were primarily polyethylene and polypropylene-based polymers. Bottom-dwelling fish contained more microplastics than those living higher in the water column, suggesting that contaminated sediments are a significant source of exposure for freshwater species.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 220 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification of the composition and abundance of microplastics in the digestive tract of fish in the Banjaran River, Banyumas District

Researchers identified and quantified microplastic composition and abundance in digestive tract contents of wild-caught fish from a coastal fishery, documenting ingestion rates, polymer types, and particle morphologies across multiple commercially important species.

2025 Acta Aquatica Aquatic Sciences Journal
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

Microplastics in Aquatic Environments and Their Toxicological Implications for Fish

This review summarizes research on microplastic occurrence in freshwater and marine environments and the toxicological risks they pose to fish, examining both direct physical effects and the role of plastics as vectors for chemical pollutants. The authors highlight that freshwater fish are particularly vulnerable given the high loads of microplastics in rivers receiving wastewater.

2016 InTech eBooks 61 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing microplastic abundances in freshwater fishes in a subtropical African reservoir

Scientists examined freshwater fish from a reservoir in South Africa and found microplastics in nearly 87% of the fish across eight species. Fibers were the most common type of microplastic, found in both the gills and digestive tracts of the fish. Since these fish are consumed by local communities, the widespread contamination raises concerns about human exposure to microplastics through freshwater fish, an understudied area compared to marine seafood.

2024 Discover Sustainability 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in perch (Perca fluviatilis, Linnaeus 1758) from Italian south-alpine lakes

Researchers examined microplastic ingestion in European perch (Perca fluviatilis) from four Italian alpine lakes, finding MPs in the gastrointestinal tracts of all sampled fish with fibers as the dominant type and higher ingestion rates in fish from more urbanized lake catchments.

2021 Environmental Pollution 49 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of Micro- and Nanoplastic Composition (Polymers and Additives) in the Gastrointestinal Tracts of Ebro River Fishes

Micro- and nanoplastics consumed by fish were analyzed for both polymer composition and chemical additives, finding that ingested particles carry a complex mixture of sorbed organic contaminants with potential bioavailability along aquatic food chains. The study highlights that polymer type alone is insufficient for assessing the health risk of microplastic ingestion.

2022 Molecules 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of microplastics in the Han River and riverine fish in South Korea

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in the Han River and its tributaries in South Korea, as well as in six species of freshwater fish. They found microplastics at all sampling sites, with polyethylene, silicone, and polystyrene being the most common polymer types. Fish intestines contained an average of 22 microplastic particles per individual, predominantly fragments, indicating widespread contamination of the freshwater food web.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 329 citations
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
Article Tier 2

Comparative study on microplastic abundance in fish organs from marine and freshwater ecosystems of the southern Baltic Sea region: influence of habitat zone and feeding preferences

Researchers found microplastics in 58% of 500 fish specimens examined across Baltic Sea and northern Polish freshwater ecosystems, with carnivorous and benthic species showing the highest contamination levels and blue fibers being the most common particle type across all habitats.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin
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
Article Tier 2

Pervasive Microplastic Ingestion by Commercial Fish Species from a Natural Lagoon Environment

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in the gastrointestinal tracts and gills of commercial fish species from a natural lagoon environment. Microplastics were found across all species examined, with fiber morphotypes dominant and contamination levels reflecting the lagoon's proximity to human activity and plastic pollution sources.

2024 Water 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in thirty commercially important fish species: Distribution, polymer composition, pollution indices, and human health risks

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in 600 specimens across 30 commercially important fish species from the Indian coast, finding the highest accumulation in the gastrointestinal tract with carnivorous species carrying the greatest burden. Polyethylene and polypropylene fibers were the dominant particle types, and human health risk assessment showed measurable daily intake from consuming these fish, with pollution indices indicating considerable to medium hazard risk levels.

2026 Marine Pollution Bulletin
Article Tier 2

Assessment of microplastic contamination in the gastrointestinal tracts of indigenous fishes from north eastern hill regions of Bhogdoi, a tributary of River Brahmaputra, India

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in the digestive tracts of freshwater fish from the Bhogdoi River in northeast India. The study found that all 180 fish examined contained microplastics, with fibers and fragments in the 100-500 micrometer range being most common, and herbivorous species showing the highest accumulation. Evidence indicates that polyamide and polypropylene were the most prevalent polymer types, providing baseline data on microplastic ingestion by fish in the Brahmaputra tributary system.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 11 citations