Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

First evidence of in vitro cytotoxic effects of marine microlitter on Merluccius merluccius and Mullus barbatus, two Mediterranean commercial fish species

This study exposed primary cell cultures from Mediterranean commercial fish — European hake and red mullet — to real marine microlitter collected from coastal waters, finding cytotoxic effects in immune and mucosal tissues. Importantly, both fish species had ingested plastics including HDPE and polypropylene, providing evidence that environmental (not just laboratory) microplastic contamination harms marine food fish.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 11 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

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

A Biomarker Approach as Responses of Bioindicator Commercial Fish Species to Microplastic Ingestion: Assessing Tissue and Biochemical Relationships

Researchers assessed microplastic intake and antioxidant biomarker responses in three Mediterranean fish species, finding that microplastic ingestion correlated with oxidative stress indicators across red mullet, bogue, and anchovy populations.

2022 Biology 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Immunotoxicity of microplastics in fish

This review examines how microplastics damage the immune systems of fish, from harming their gills and organs to disrupting immune cell signaling and gene expression. Over time, microplastic exposure weakens fish immunity by killing immune cells and reducing their ability to fight off infections, with implications for the broader food chain that connects aquatic life to human diets.

2024 Fish & Shellfish Immunology 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance and ecological risk of microplastics in commercial fish species from northeastern Mediterranean Sea

Researchers examined nine commercially important fish species from the northeastern Mediterranean Sea and found microplastics in both their digestive tracts and gills. The most common particles were small polyethylene and polypropylene fibers, and bottom-dwelling fish species had higher contamination levels. While the ecological risk was rated low to medium, the presence of microplastics in widely consumed fish species highlights a potential pathway for human exposure through seafood.

2024 Environmental Pollution 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics’ Occurrence in Edible Fish Species (Mullus barbatus and M. surmuletus) from an Italian Marine Protected Area

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in the gastrointestinal tracts and livers of red mullet species (Mullus barbatus and M. surmuletus) from a Marine Protected Area in the Ionian Sea, finding microplastics in over 60% of specimens at an average of three items per fish. ATR-FTIR and pyrolysis-GC/MS identified the dominant polymer types, with red mullets showing nearly twice the contamination levels of striped red mullets.

2022 Microplastics 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Induction of detoxification systems in wild red mullet Mullus surmuletus after microplastic ingestion

Wild red mullet caught near Mallorca were found to have ingested microplastics in 28% of sampled fish, and those fish showed activation of liver detoxification systems compared to fish without plastic in their stomachs. This is among the first evidence that wild fish experience physiological responses to microplastic ingestion, though no oxidative damage was detected.

2016
Article Tier 2

First evidence of in vitro cytotoxic effects of marine microlitter on Merluccius merluccius and Mullus barbatus , two Mediterranean commercial fish species

Researchers collected actual marine litter (not lab-made microplastics) from the Northern Adriatic Sea and tested its toxicity on cells from two commercially caught fish species. Real marine microlitter caused significant cell damage and inflammation, including effects not seen with pristine lab-grade microplastics. This suggests that studies using only clean, standardized plastic particles may underestimate the true toxicity of environmental microplastics.

2021
Article Tier 2

Relationship between biological, ecological parameters and microplastic concentration in Mediterranean fish species

Researchers detected and characterized microplastics in five commercially important Mediterranean fish species -- including Mullus barbatus, Sardina pilchardus, and Trachinus draco -- and analyzed how biological parameters (length, weight) and ecological factors (diet, habitat) influenced microplastic contamination levels across species.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Investigation of microplastic contamination in the gastrointestinal tract of some species of caught fish from Oman Sea

Researchers found microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of fish species sampled from marine environments, documenting plastic ingestion across multiple species. The study contributes to the growing evidence base on microplastic contamination in commercially important fish.

2019 SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in aquaculture - Potential impacts on inflammatory processes in Nile tilapia

Researchers fed Nile tilapia a diet containing a mixture of four common microplastics and found that the particles triggered inflammatory responses in both adult and juvenile fish. The microplastics activated immune pathways and caused tissue changes in the gut and other organs, with juveniles being more sensitive. Since tilapia is one of the most widely farmed fish in the world, these findings raise concerns about the safety of farm-raised fish exposed to microplastic-contaminated water.

2024 Heliyon 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic ingestion by Mullus surmuletus Linnaeus, 1758 fish and its potential for causing oxidative stress

About 27% of striped red mullet caught in the Mediterranean had ingested microplastics, but analysis of their livers showed no significant oxidative stress or cellular damage. The study suggests that at current environmental concentrations, microplastic ingestion by this commercially important fish species does not cause measurable acute harm to organ tissue.

2017 Environmental Research 363 citations
Article Tier 2

Intestinal alterations in European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax (Linnaeus, 1758) exposed to microplastics: Preliminary results

Researchers fed European sea bass diets containing virgin and pollutant-contaminated PVC microplastic pellets for 90 days and examined the effects on their intestines. They found moderate tissue damage and increased mucus cell activity in fish exposed to both types of microplastics, with pollutant-laden particles causing the most pronounced changes. The study provides early evidence that chronic microplastic ingestion can alter gut health in commercially important fish species.

2016 Environmental Pollution 585 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingestion of microplastics and occurrence of parasite association in Mediterranean anchovy and sardine

Scientists quantified microplastic ingestion in European sardines and anchovies from the Northwestern Mediterranean, finding 58–60% occurrence rates and noting that parasite infection was negatively associated with microplastic presence, suggesting shared ecological or physiological factors.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 91 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

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

Understanding the links between micro/nanoplastics-induced gut microbes dysbiosis and potential diseases in fish: A review

This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics accumulate in fish intestines and disrupt their gut bacteria, potentially leading to inflammation, immune problems, and metabolic diseases. The disrupted gut microbiome can weaken the intestinal barrier, allowing harmful substances to enter the fish's body. Since fish are a major protein source for billions of people, understanding how microplastics damage fish gut health is important for assessing risks to human food safety.

2024 Environmental Pollution 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

Occurrence, abundance and characteristics of microplastics in some commercial fish of northern coasts of the Persian Gulf

Microplastics were found in muscle, liver, gill, and gastrointestinal tissues of 14 commercially fished species from the northern Persian Gulf, with gastrointestinal tissues showing the highest contamination and muscle tissue showing very low levels, suggesting limited translocation from gut to edible flesh in most species.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 74 citations