Papers

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Article Tier 2

Microplastic Contamination in the Atlantic Horse Mackerel (Trachurus trachurus, Linnaeus 1758) from Selected Markets in Benin City, Nigeria

Atlantic horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) from fish markets in Benin City, Nigeria were found to contain microplastics at a mean level of approximately 1.4 particles per fish, with fibers being the dominant shape and polyester and nylon as the most common polymer types.

2025 Journal of applied science and environmental management
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

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 Atlantic horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) from central Mediterranean Sea: A potential cause for endocrine disruption

Researchers examined plastic ingestion by Atlantic horse mackerel caught in the central Mediterranean, finding plastics in a substantial fraction of fish stomachs and identifying chemicals with known endocrine-disrupting properties in the ingested plastic types, raising concerns for both fish health and seafood safety.

2021 Environmental Pollution 48 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic ingestion by Atlantic horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) in the North and central Moroccan Atlantic coast between Larache (35°30′N) and Boujdour (26°30′N)

Researchers found that Atlantic horse mackerel along the Moroccan Atlantic coast had ingested polyamide, acrylic, and polystyrene microplastics, mapping the spatial distribution of contamination across a 900 km stretch of coastline.

2021 Environmental Pollution 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in gastrointestinal tracts of Trachurus trachurus and Scomber colias from the Portuguese Coastal waters

This study found microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of two commercially important fish species — Atlantic horse mackerel and Atlantic chub mackerel — caught in Portuguese coastal waters, with higher incidence in one species than the other. The results confirm microplastic ingestion is common in commercially harvested fish, raising questions about human dietary exposure through seafood consumption.

2017 Revista de Estudos Anglo-Portugueses/Journal of Anglo-Portuguese Studies 6 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

CURRENT SITUATION OF MICROPLASTIC POLLUTION IN THE BLACK SEA (TÜRKİYE) WHITING (Merlangius merlangus)

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in Black Sea whiting (Merlangius merlangus) caught in Turkish waters, characterizing the abundance, types, and polymer composition of ingested microplastics in this commercially important fish. The findings contribute to understanding microplastic pollution levels in Black Sea fisheries and associated ecological risks.

2025 Ataturk University - AVESIS
Article Tier 2

Determination of Microplastic Pollution in Commercial Fish in the Middle Black Sea (Samsun), Türkiye

Researchers detected microplastics in six commercially important fish species from the Middle Black Sea Region, including rainbow trout, sea bass, sea bream, red mullet, horse mackerel, and whiting. MPs were found in multiple species, with polymer type and shape varying by species and habitat, reflecting differences in feeding behavior and habitat exposure.

2025 Toxics
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

Microplastic litter composition of the Turkish territorial waters of the Mediterranean Sea, and its occurrence in the gastrointestinal tract of fish

Researchers analyzed microplastic litter composition in Turkish territorial waters of the Mediterranean, documenting polymer types, shapes, and sizes and identifying textiles and packaging as dominant plastic sources.

2017 Environmental Pollution 736 citations
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

Occurrence of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of some edible fish species along the Turkish coast

Researchers examined the gastrointestinal tracts of 243 individual fish from five edible species along the Turkish coast, documenting the occurrence and characteristics of ingested microplastics. The study found microplastics present in multiple commercially important fish species, raising implications for seafood safety and human dietary exposure.

2020 TURKISH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 74 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic distribution in different tissues of small pelagic fish of the Northeast Atlantic Ocean

Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in three commercially important fish species from the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula, finding plastic particles in the gut, gills, and muscle tissue. Horse mackerel had the highest contamination rates, with 92 percent of individuals containing microplastics in their digestive tract and 63 percent in their muscle. Since these fish are widely consumed by people, the presence of microplastics in edible muscle tissue is a direct concern for human dietary exposure.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics occurrence in edible fish species (Mullus barbatus and Merluccius merluccius) collected in three different geographical sub-areas of the Mediterranean Sea

Researchers examined the gastrointestinal tracts of 229 demersal fish from two Mediterranean species across three geographic sub-areas, finding microplastics in a significant portion of individuals with fibers as the dominant type. The study contributes to growing evidence that microplastic ingestion is widespread in commercially fished Mediterranean species.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 207 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic Occurrence in Commercial Fish Species of the Black Sea

Researchers examined plastic ingestion in seven commercial fish species from the Black Sea and found plastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of 29% of all individuals tested. Fibres were the most common type of plastic found, accounting for nearly 69% of all particles, with 93% being microplastics smaller than 5 mm. The study identified polypropylene, polyester, and acrylic as the most prevalent polymer types, indicating widespread microplastic contamination in Black Sea commercial fisheries.

2021 Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 57 citations
Article Tier 2

Revealing the capability of the European hake to cope with micro-litter environmental exposure and its inferred potential health impact in the NW Mediterranean Sea

Researchers investigated microplastic ingestion by juvenile European hake in the NW Mediterranean Sea, revealing the species' capacity to cope with environmental micro-litter exposure while identifying potential health impacts from anthropogenic particle accumulation in this commercially important fish.

2023 Marine Environmental Research 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic ingestion evidence by economically important farmed fish species from Turkey

Researchers examined microplastic ingestion in farmed rainbow trout, gilthead seabream, and European seabass from Turkey, finding microplastics in 50-63% of fish gastrointestinal tracts, predominantly fibers and fragments from polyethylene and polypropylene.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 37 citations
Article Tier 2

Heavy Metal Content and Risk Assessment in Trachurus trachurus Investigated from the Marmara Sea

Not relevant to microplastics — this study measures heavy metal concentrations (such as lead, cadmium, and mercury) in Atlantic horse mackerel from the Marmara Sea and assesses associated cancer and non-cancer health risks for consumers.

2023 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Suspected microplastics in Atlantic horse mackerel fish (Trachurus trachurus) captured in Portugal

Researchers examined microplastic presence in multiple internal organs of Atlantic horse mackerel caught off the coast of Portugal. The study found suspected microplastics in all organs examined, including gills, gut, kidney, and heart, with the smallest particles found in the heart and blood, highlighting the potential for microplastics to translocate beyond the digestive system.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 54 citations
Article Tier 2

The Assessment of the Bioaccumulation of Microplastics in Key Fish Species from the Bulgarian Aquatory of the Black Sea

Researchers found microplastics in the soft tissues of five commercially important Black Sea fish species collected off the Bulgarian coast, with polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate as the dominant polymer types. Pellets were the most common particle shape, found across all specimens regardless of species. The results indicate significant microplastic contamination in a major regional seafood source, raising concerns about the potential for plastics to move up the food chain and reach people who consume these fish.

2023 Preprints.org 1 citations
Article Tier 2

The assessment of the bioaccumulation of microplastics in key fish species from the Bulgarian aquatory of the Black Sea

Researchers examined five commercially important fish species from the Bulgarian Black Sea coast and found microplastics in all tissue types studied. The most common particles were polyethylene and PET pellets, with sizes ranging down to 25 micrometers, indicating widespread plastic pollution in this region that could affect both fish populations and the humans who eat them.

2024 BIORISK – Biodiversity and Ecosystem Risk Assessment 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Tissues (Brain, Gill, Muscle and Gastrointestinal) of Mullus barbatus and Alosa immaculata

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in the brain, gill, muscle, and gastrointestinal tissues of two commercial fish species from the Black Sea. They found microplastics present in all tissue types examined, with the gastrointestinal tract containing the highest amounts. The study raises concerns about human exposure to microplastics through seafood consumption, since these particles can accumulate throughout the bodies of commercially important fish.

2021 Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 134 citations
Article Tier 2

A Hazard Index of Microplastics Contamination in Commercial Marine Fish Species and Mussels in the Southern Marmara Sea, Turkey

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in five commercially important fish species and Mediterranean mussels from the southern Marmara Sea in Turkey. They found microplastics in all species examined, with varying levels of contamination across different collection sites, and calculated hazard indices to estimate potential risks. The study provides evidence that seafood consumers in the region may face meaningful dietary exposure to microplastics.

2025 Aquaculture Research 2 citations