Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Presence of microplastics in water, sediments and fish species in an urban coastal environment of Fiji, a Pacific small island developing state

Researchers conducted the first assessment of microplastic levels in surface water, sediments, and fish from the urban coastal environment of Suva, Fiji. The study confirmed the presence of microplastics across all three matrices in this Pacific small island developing state, and evaluated contributions from local sources including wastewater, highlighting that microplastic pollution affects even remote island nations.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 175 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic occurrence in 21 coastal marine fish species from fishing communities on Viti Levu, Fiji

Researchers analyzed microplastic ingestion in 184 fish from 21 species across three coastal communities in Fiji and found microplastics in 74% of fish examined. Fibers were the most common particle type at 66%, with polyethylene and polypropylene the dominant polymers. This dataset, the largest of its kind for Fiji, establishes a critical baseline for monitoring plastic pollution in the region's coastal fishing grounds.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in aquaculture environments: Sources, pollution status, toxicity and potential as substrates for nitrogen-cycling microbiota

Researchers reviewed microplastic pollution in aquaculture systems, finding concentrations as high as 362 particles per liter in water and nearly 125,000 per kilogram in sediment, with microplastics accumulating in farmed fish and shellfish and potentially reaching humans through the food chain.

2024 Agricultural Water Management 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Freshwater Aquaculture Fishpond System in Yichang, China: The Occurrence, Characteristics and Potential Risks

Researchers investigated the occurrence and distribution of microplastics in freshwater aquaculture fishponds in Yichang, China, finding microplastics present in all sampled matrices — water, sediment, fish tissue, and fish feed — with most particles under 1.0 mm in diameter.

2024 Wuhan University Journal of Natural Sciences
Article Tier 2

Microplastics contamination in pearl-farming lagoons of French Polynesia

Microplastic contamination was documented in pearl-farming lagoons of French Polynesia, establishing a pollution baseline for these economically important tropical ecosystems and identifying local aquaculture activities as a contributing source.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 58 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

Microplastic occurrence in brackish water ponds and milkfish in Capiz, Philippines

Researchers quantified and characterized microplastics in water, sediment, and milkfish tissues from brackish water ponds in Capiz, Philippines. Microplastics were detected across all sample matrices, with fibers dominating, and fish gills and gastrointestinal tracts showing higher concentrations than muscle tissue, providing baseline contamination data for Philippine aquaculture.

2025 Journal of Biological Studies
Article Tier 2

Presence and abundance of microplastics in edible freshwater mussel (Batissa violacea) on Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu

Microplastics were found in 100% of freshwater mussels (Batissa violacea) sampled from five rivers on Fiji's main island, with average site concentrations ranging considerably between rivers. The study represents the first documentation of microplastic contamination in Fijian freshwater mussels, raising concerns about food safety for communities that rely on this bivalve as a protein source.

2022 Marine and Freshwater Research 13 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

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

Microplastic contamination in the aquaculture icon Oreochromis mossambicus: Prevalence, characteristics, and comprehensive overview

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in the Mozambique tilapia, a widely farmed fish species in India, and found microplastics present in the digestive tracts of sampled fish. The most common types were fibers and fragments made of polyethylene and polypropylene. The study raises concerns about microplastic transfer through aquaculture to human consumers, given the growing importance of tilapia farming and the rising levels of plastic pollution in Indian freshwater systems.

2024 Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

A Comparison of Microplastic in Fish From Australia and Fiji

Researchers compared microplastic contamination in fish sold for human consumption in Australia and Fiji, finding plastic particles in species from both countries. The study found differences in the abundance and types of plastic between the two regions, with fibers being the most common form, highlighting that microplastic contamination in commercial fish is a widespread issue across the southern hemisphere.

2021 Frontiers in Marine Science 71 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

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

A systems analysis of microplastic pollution in Laizhou Bay, China

Researchers conducted a systems analysis of microplastic contamination across surface water, sediment, and living fish at 58 sites in Laizhou Bay, China, finding pervasive fiber-dominated microplastic distribution with no significant regional differences, suggesting multiple diffuse pollution sources throughout the semi-closed bay.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 111 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics contamination in aquaculture-rich regions: A case study in Gresik, East Java, Indonesia

This study provides the first assessment of microplastic contamination in milkfish aquaculture ponds in Gresik, Indonesia. Researchers found microplastics in both water and sediment across all sampling sites, with fragments, fibers, films, and pellets of various polymer types present, largely linked to human activities surrounding the ponds.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 8 citations
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

Microplastic ingestion data for 86 fish species across five Vanuatu communities: a reference for Pacific Island pollution monitoring

Researchers documented microplastic ingestion in 354 fish across 86 species from Vanuatu's coastal communities, establishing the country's first baseline dataset and finding that only about 5% of fish contained microplastics, mostly fibers made of polyethylene. Because Pacific Islanders often eat whole fish including the gut, this dataset is especially important for assessing human microplastic exposure through traditional food practices.

2025 Discover Oceans 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of micro- nanoplastics in a commercial recirculated aquaculture system and their translocation to cultured fish organs: A baseline study

Researchers found microplastics and nanoplastics inside the muscle, brain, and gut of Nile tilapia raised in a commercial fish farm that uses recirculated water, identifying multiple plastic polymer types in fish tissue — a finding that suggests farmed fish are a direct route for microplastic exposure in people who eat them.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of microplastic in the water of different types of aquaculture ponds in an important lakeside freshwater aquaculture area of China

Microplastics were detected in aquaculture pond water across an important freshwater aquaculture region in China, with pond type and cultured species influencing microplastic occurrence and composition.

2021 Chemosphere 81 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and Characteristics of Microplastics Contamination in Different Intensive Aquaculture Systems Nearby the Yangtze Estuary, China

Researchers compared microplastic contamination across four types of aquaculture systems near China's Yangtze Estuary, finding that earthen ponds had the highest concentrations (13.81 particles/L) while recirculating aquaculture systems had the lowest, with fibers being the dominant shape in most settings.

2022 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 21 citations
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 fish meal: Contamination level analyzed by polymer type, including polyester (PET), polyolefins, and polystyrene

Fish meal produced from wild-caught fish was analyzed for microplastic contamination by polymer type, finding widespread contamination including fiber shapes and diverse polymer compositions. The study raised concerns about microplastic transfer into aquaculture and intensive animal farming through fish meal used as a high-protein feed ingredient.

2020 Environmental Pollution 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in aquaculture systems: Occurrence, ecological threats and control strategies

This review summarizes how microplastics contaminate aquaculture systems through fishing gear, feed, and polluted water, and examines their effects on farmed aquatic species. Microplastics accumulate in farmed fish and shellfish, raising concerns about food safety for the millions of people who consume aquaculture products. The authors discuss removal strategies and call for better monitoring to protect both aquaculture sustainability and consumer health.

2023 Chemosphere 54 citations