Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Developmental Polyethylene Microplastic Fiber Exposure Entails Subtle Reproductive Impacts in Juvenile Japanese Medaka (Oryzias latipes)

Japanese medaka fish exposed to environmentally relevant levels of polyethylene microplastic fibers throughout development showed subtle but measurable reproductive impacts including alterations in gonadal development. The findings suggest that chronic low-dose microplastic fiber exposure during early life may impair future reproductive capacity in fish.

2022 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 18 citations
Clinical Trial Tier 1

Effect of Microplastic Exposures to The Male Gonad Histology of Catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

This study found that microplastic exposure damaged the reproductive organs of male catfish, causing structural changes in gonad tissue. The findings raise concerns about microplastic effects on fish reproductive health, which could impact aquaculture productivity and suggests that these particles may pose broader reproductive risks to aquatic species in our food supply.

2023 Journal of Aquaculture and Fish Health 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Environmental microplastics accumulate in gonads in a sex-dependent manner and alter reproductive success in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Zebrafish exposed to environmentally sourced microplastics accumulated particles preferentially in the testes rather than ovaries, and males showed the highest gonadal microplastic loads along with PCB co-contaminant effects including inhibited apoptosis and hepatotoxicity.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances
Article Tier 2

Eco Toxicological Assessment of Micro Plastic Ingestion in Freshwater Fishes: A Case Study on Bioaccumulation and Histopathological Alterations

Researchers assessed microplastic accumulation in three freshwater fish species (tilapia, rohu, catla) from a major river system, finding microplastics in gastrointestinal tracts and associated histopathological damage in gills, liver, and kidneys.

2025 Asian Journal of Research in Zoology
Article Tier 2

Silent Killers: The Alarming Impact of Microplastics Polystyrene on Catfish Liver Health

Researchers exposed catfish to polystyrene microplastics and documented severe liver damage including necrosis, steatosis, and oxidative stress, finding that even short-term exposure caused histopathological changes comparable to those seen with classic liver toxins.

2025 JURNAL KESEHATAN LINGKUNGAN
Article Tier 2

Multi-mechanistic effects of bisphenol A on testicular dysfunction and endocrine disruption in adult male Labeo bata: oxidative stress, inflammation, and dysregulated energy sensors

Researchers studied how bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical that leaches from microplastics in water, affects reproductive function in male fish. They found that chronic BPA exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations caused significant testicular damage, including reduced sperm production, increased inflammation, and disrupted hormone signaling. The study reveals multiple mechanisms by which this common microplastic-associated chemical can impair male reproductive health in aquatic species.

2025 Environmental Pollution 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Chronic feeding exposure to virgin and spiked microplastics disrupts essential biological functions in teleost fish

Researchers fed zebrafish and marine medaka environmentally relevant concentrations of virgin and chemically spiked polyethylene and PVC microplastics over four months. While classical biomarkers showed no changes, significant decreases in growth and disruptions to reproduction, gut integrity, and liver function were observed. The findings suggest that chronic dietary exposure to microplastics can disrupt essential biological functions in fish even without triggering traditional toxicity markers.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 90 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics induced endocrine disruption, alteration in testicular tissue in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) pre-fed on Amphora coffeaeformis

Researchers found that microplastic exposure caused hormonal disruption, reduced sperm quality, and damaged testicular tissue in male tilapia fish, but pre-feeding the fish with a microalgae feed supplement partially protected against these reproductive harms. The study suggests that dietary interventions may help mitigate microplastic toxicity in fish farmed for human consumption.

2021 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Ecotoxicological effects of low-density polyethylene microplastic on Heteropneustes fossilis: behavioral, hematological, biochemical, and histopathological impacts

Scientists exposed freshwater fish to tiny plastic particles (microplastics) from everyday items like plastic bags and found they caused serious health problems including blood disorders, organ damage, and weakened immune systems. The higher the amount of plastic particles, the worse the damage became to vital organs like gills, intestines, and liver. This matters because these same microplastics are found throughout our food chain and water supply, raising concerns about potential health risks for humans who consume contaminated fish and water.

2026 Frontiers in Aquaculture
Article Tier 2

Dose-Dependent Effect of Polystyrene Microplastics on the Testicular Tissues of the Male Sprague Dawley Rats

Male rats exposed to increasing doses of polystyrene microplastics showed dose-dependent testicular damage including disrupted spermatogenesis and altered hormone levels, suggesting potential reproductive toxicity from microplastic accumulation.

2021 Dose-Response 98 citations
Article Tier 2

Histological and Histochemical Effects of Microplastics Administration in Oreochromis niloticus Fingerlings

Researchers exposed Nile tilapia to two types of microplastics and examined histological and histochemical changes in gills, liver, and kidneys, finding tissue-level damage that demonstrates the harmful effects of microplastic ingestion on vital fish organs.

2023 Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences. D, Histology and Histochemistry 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Sub-chronic exposure of Oreochromis niloticus to environmentally relevant concentrations of smaller microplastics: Accumulation and toxico-physiological responses

Researchers exposed Nile tilapia to low, environmentally relevant concentrations of polystyrene microplastics for 14 days and found the particles accumulated in multiple organs including the brain, liver, and reproductive tissues. The fish showed changes in blood chemistry, increased stress hormones, and signs of liver and kidney dysfunction. These results suggest that even realistic levels of microplastic pollution can cause measurable physiological harm in fish.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 42 citations
Article Tier 2

The gonadal health status of Cyprinidae fish species collected from the river impacted by anthropogenic activities

Not relevant to microplastics — this study assesses reproductive health in three freshwater fish species from a Turkish river contaminated by heavy metals from agricultural and industrial wastewater, with no mention of microplastics.

2023 Ege Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Histopathological Examination of Zebrafish Organs Under the Exposure to Microplastics

This study conducted histopathological examination of zebrafish organs following microplastic exposure, assessing tissue-level damage in multiple organ systems. The work is part of a broader Kazakhstani research program studying the effects of anthropogenic pollutants on commercial fish species.

2024 Experimental biology
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics exposure in freshwater fish, Labeo rohita: evaluation of physiology and histopathology

Researchers fed freshwater fish varying levels of polystyrene microplastics for 90 days and found dose-dependent damage to blood health, growth, and organ tissues. Higher microplastic concentrations caused more severe harm to the liver, kidneys, gills, and intestines. The study highlights that microplastics in freshwater systems can accumulate in fish and cause significant health problems, raising concerns about food safety for communities that rely on freshwater fish.

2025 Scientific Reports 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Chronic dietary exposure to polystyrene microplastics in maturing Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes)

Japanese medaka fish were fed diets containing polystyrene microplastics for 10 weeks during maturation, finding no tissue translocation or behavioral changes but a dose-dependent decrease in egg production in mature females. The results suggest chronic dietary MP exposure may impair reproduction even without systemic distribution.

2019 Aquatic Toxicology 132 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

The emerging risk of microplastics and nanoplastics on the microstructure and function of reproductive organs in mammals: A systematic review of preclinical evidence

Preclinical evidence from 12 studies shows micro- and nanoplastics accumulate in mammalian gonads, causing dose-dependent damage including seminiferous degeneration, sperm malformation, reduced follicular growth, and impaired hormone levels through pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory mechanisms.

2022 Life Sciences 94 citations