Papers

61,005 results
|
Clinical Trial Tier 1

Survival Rate and Growth Length of Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Exposed to Microplastics

This study found that catfish exposed to microplastics showed reduced survival rates and slower growth compared to unexposed fish. The results are concerning because catfish is a widely farmed and consumed freshwater species, and microplastic contamination in aquaculture environments could affect both fish welfare and the quality of seafood reaching consumers.

2023 Journal of Aquaculture and Fish Health 5 citations
Clinical Trial Tier 1

The Effect of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Microplastic Exposure in Feed on The Growth Performance and Survival of Catin Fish (Pangasius hypophthalmus)

This study tested how PVC microplastics in feed affect the growth and survival of catfish. It found that microplastic exposure reduced fish growth performance, demonstrating how plastic contamination in aquatic environments can impact the food chain and potentially the seafood people eat.

2025 Jurnal Akuakultura Universitas Teuku Umar
Article Tier 2

Virgin microplastics cause toxicity and modulate the impacts of phenanthrene on biomarker responses in African catfish ( Clarias gariepinus )

Researchers investigated the impacts of virgin and phenanthrene-loaded polyethylene microplastic fragments on juvenile African catfish. The study found that even virgin microplastics caused toxicity and altered biomarker responses, and that microplastics modulated the toxic effects of phenanthrene, suggesting microplastics can act as both independent stressors and carriers of chemical contaminants.

2016 Environmental Research 392 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection of Microplastic Pollutants and the Wellbeing of Clarias gariepinus (African Catfish) in Jama’are River, Bauchi State, Nigeria

Researchers detected multiple types of microplastics — including polyethylene, polypropylene, and PVC — in water and fish from a Nigerian river, and found that African catfish living there showed signs of tissue damage and altered blood markers, indicating that microplastic contamination is harming freshwater fish health in the region.

2024 Asian Journal of Biological Sciences
Article Tier 2

Plastic pollution in fish (O. niloticus and C. gariepinus) in a Nile Canal, Delta of Egypt.

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in the gastrointestinal tracts of 127 Nile tilapia and 32 African catfish from a Nilotic canal in Egypt's Delta, finding microplastic occurrence rates of 33.9% and 59.4% respectively with fibers as the dominant morphology. The study analyzed the relationship between microplastic ingestion and fish biological parameters, feeding habits, and seasonal variation.

2023 Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigations of hemato-biochemical and histopathological parameters, and growth performance of walking catfish (Clarias batrachus) exposed to PET and LDPE microplastics

Researchers exposed walking catfish to PET and LDPE microplastics for 60 days and observed significant changes in blood parameters, including decreased red blood cells and increased white blood cells. Tissue damage was found in the liver and gills, and fish growth was reduced compared to unexposed groups. The study suggests that bottom-dwelling fish species may be particularly vulnerable to microplastic contamination in their habitat.

2023 Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Decreased growth and survival in small juvenile fish, after chronic exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastic

Researchers exposed juvenile glassfish to environmentally realistic concentrations of both virgin and harbor-collected microplastics for 95 days, finding that fish in plastic-fed groups grew significantly less in length, depth, and mass, and had lower survival probability than controls.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 189 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Harmful effects of microplastics on respiratory system of aquatic animals: A systematic review and meta-analysis

A meta-analysis of 35 studies found that polyethylene microplastics had the greatest impact on aquatic animal respiratory systems, with fish being the most sensitive species. Exposure concentrations above 1,000 micrograms per liter or durations exceeding 28 days triggered oxidative stress cascades leading to antioxidant depletion, cellular damage, inflammation, and behavioral abnormalities.

2024 Aquatic Toxicology 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingestion of polyethylene microplastics impacts cichlid behaviour despite having low retention time

Researchers fed juvenile cichlid fish brine shrimp contaminated with polyethylene microplastics and observed significant behavioral changes, including altered activity and feeding patterns, even though the plastic particles passed through the fish quickly. The study suggests that even brief microplastic exposure can disrupt normal fish behavior, which could affect their survival in polluted waterways.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Some Behavioural and Physiological Effects of Plastics (Polyethylene) on Fish

Researchers examined behavioral and physiological effects of polyethylene microplastics on fish, finding that plastic exposure disrupted endocrine function, altered behavior, and impaired normal development and reproduction.

2023 Tropical Aquatic and Soil Pollution 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Lead to Hyperactive Swimming Behaviour in Adult Zebrafish

Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics across a wide concentration range and found that microplastics accumulated primarily in the gastrointestinal tract and gills. The study revealed that exposed fish exhibited hyperactive swimming behavior, suggesting that microplastic ingestion can affect locomotor activity even without obvious physical damage to internal organs.

2020 Aquatic Toxicology 178 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of polyethylene-microplastics on freshwater fish species: Implications for human health

This study reviews the toxic effects of polyethylene microplastics on freshwater fish species and the implications for human health, drawing on a body of existing literature on plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems. The work synthesizes evidence of microplastic ingestion, bioaccumulation, and physiological effects in freshwater fish with relevance to human dietary exposure.

2022 Public Health Toxicology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicity of co-exposure of microplastics and lead in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Researchers exposed African catfish to lead, microplastics, and a combination of both for 15 days and found that the combined exposure was more harmful than either pollutant alone. The mixture caused the greatest damage to blood cells, triggered stronger inflammatory responses, and disrupted the fish's antioxidant defenses. Since microplastics can carry heavy metals like lead on their surfaces, this study shows how microplastics may amplify the toxic effects of other pollutants in freshwater fish that people eat.

2023 Frontiers in Veterinary Science 42 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of dietary polyvinylchloride, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate exposure in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus: Bioaccumulation, and effects on behaviour, growth, hematology and histology

Nile tilapia fish fed three common types of microplastics (PVC, polypropylene, and PET) showed reduced growth, abnormal behavior, blood cell damage, and tissue damage in their gills, liver, and intestines. The harmful effects increased with higher doses of microplastics and varied by plastic type. Since tilapia is one of the most widely consumed fish globally, these findings raise concerns about the health of fish that may carry microplastic contamination to human diets.

2024 Environmental Pollution 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingestion and the toxicological effects of virgin polyethylene (PE) and polyvinylchloride (PVC) microplastics in commercial freshwater fish, tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Researchers exposed tilapia to polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride microplastics through their diet over 21 days and observed behavioral changes, mortality, and reduced growth rates. The study suggests that ingestion of common microplastic types can impair the health and survival of commercially important freshwater fish, with implications for aquaculture and food safety.

2025 Fish Physiology and Biochemistry 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Antioxidants, immunotoxicological, and histopathological impacts of polypropylene microplastics emitted from paper cups on Clarias gariepinus and the ameliorating role of Spirulina and recovery

African catfish exposed to polypropylene microplastics from paper cups showed dose-dependent reductions in antioxidant capacity, immune cell counts, and liver and gill histological damage, with spirulina supplementation providing partial protective effects.

2025 Fish Physiology and Biochemistry
Article Tier 2

The Effect of Polystyrene Microplastic Exposure in the Rearing Water on Muscle Morphology of Mutiara Catfish (Clarias gariepinus Burchell, 1822)

Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) were exposed to polystyrene microplastics at 0, 1, 10, and 100 mg/L for 28 days and muscle tissue was examined histologically. Microplastics accumulated in muscle tissue in a dose-dependent manner, and myofiber diameter and area decreased significantly at higher concentrations, indicating microplastic-induced muscle damage.

2025 Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA
Article Tier 2

Deleterious effects of polypropylene released from paper cups on blood profile and liver tissue of Clarias gariepinus: bioremediation using Spirulina

Researchers investigated the harmful effects of polypropylene microplastics released from paper cups on African catfish, examining blood profiles and liver tissue damage. They also tested whether the cyanobacterium Spirulina could help mitigate these effects through bioremediation. The study found that polypropylene microplastics caused measurable biological harm to the fish, while Spirulina supplementation showed potential as a protective intervention.

2024 Frontiers in Physiology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of microplastic (polyethylene) exposure: Bioaccumulation, hematological parameters and antioxidant responses in crucian carp, Carassius carassius

Researchers exposed crucian carp to polyethylene microplastics at various concentrations and found that the particles accumulated in tissues including gills, gut, and liver. The microplastics altered blood cell counts and disrupted the fish's antioxidant defense system in a dose-dependent manner. The study suggests that even common polyethylene microplastics can cause measurable biological harm in freshwater fish.

2023 Chemosphere 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Accumulation, tissue distribution, health hazard of microplastics in a commercially important cat fish, Silonia silondia from a tropical large-scale estuary

Researchers found microplastics in the digestive tract, gills, and edible muscle tissue of a commercially important catfish species from a major tropical estuary. The most common types were PET, polyethylene, and polypropylene fibers likely originating from fishing nets and sewage. Since these microplastics were found in the muscle tissue that people eat, the study raises direct concerns about human microplastic exposure through seafood consumption.

2024 Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics on juveniles of the common goby (Pomatoschistus microps): Confusion with prey, reduction of the predatory performance and efficiency, and possible influence of developmental conditions

Researchers tested whether juvenile common goby fish ingest microplastics and whether their presence affects predatory performance. The study found that fish confused microplastics with prey, and that microplastic presence reduced predatory efficiency, with developmental conditions in different estuaries also influencing the fish's ability to distinguish between food and plastic particles.

2014 Environmental Pollution 540 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastic ingestion on feeding activity in a widespread fish on the southwestern Atlantic coast: Ramnogaster arcuata (Clupeidae)

Researchers investigated microplastic ingestion in the widespread South Atlantic fish Ramnogaster arcuata, finding evidence that microplastic presence in the gastrointestinal tract may affect feeding activity in natural environments with varying levels of anthropogenic pressure.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparative toxicity of virgin and biodegraded LLDPE microplastics on growth, behavior, antioxidant, and hematological health of Catla catla fish

Researchers compared the toxicity of virgin versus bacterially degraded polyethylene microplastics on freshwater fish, finding that both types caused abnormal behaviors and disrupted blood parameters in a dose-dependent manner. However, biodegraded microplastics produced less severe effects on growth, survival, and antioxidant enzyme activity, suggesting that microbial degradation may reduce the ecological risk posed by microplastic pollution.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects Of Microplastics On Fish Physiology

This review examines how microplastic exposure affects fish physiology, covering accumulation patterns in different tissues, effects on organ function including liver and gill damage, antioxidant responses, and potential reproductive health consequences from both solo and combined contaminant exposures.

2025 Spectrum of Emerging Sciences