Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Assessment of RNA extraction protocols from cladocerans

Researchers evaluated multiple RNA extraction protocols for use with cladocerans, small crustaceans important in freshwater ecotoxicology. Protocol performance varied significantly in yield and RNA quality across the species tested. Reliable RNA extraction is the foundation for gene expression studies that assess how organisms like water fleas respond to environmental stressors including plastic pollution.

2022 PLoS ONE 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection, counting and characterization of nanoplastics in marine bioindicators: a proof of principle study

Researchers demonstrated a proof-of-concept workflow for detecting and counting nanoplastic particles (below 1 µm) in marine invertebrate tissues using electron microscopy and spectroscopic confirmation, finding nanoplastics in marine bioindicator species and establishing a methodology for future monitoring programs.

2021 Microplastics and Nanoplastics 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Development and Validation of an Efficient Method for Processing Microplastics in Biota Samples

A new one-step laboratory method was developed to efficiently digest and extract microplastics from mussel and fish tissue samples. Standardized extraction methods are critical for making microplastic studies comparable across different labs and species.

2019 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 46 citations
Review Tier 2

A review of current approaches for the study of microplastic contamination in crustaceans

This review assessed current methodological approaches for studying microplastic contamination in crustaceans, evaluating techniques for extraction, identification, and quantification while highlighting gaps in standardization that limit cross-study comparisons and risk assessment for these ecologically important invertebrates.

2020 Environmental Reviews 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Point-of-care testing for measuring haemolymph glucose in invertebrates is not a valid method

This study found that point-of-care blood glucose devices designed for humans are not reliable for measuring hemolymph glucose in invertebrates used in ecotoxicological studies. The findings have implications for the accuracy of field assessments of invertebrate health, including studies examining microplastic effects.

2019 Conservation Physiology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Isolation of microplastics in biota-rich seawater samples and marine organisms

Researchers developed and tested methods for extracting microplastics from seawater samples rich in biological material and from the tissues of marine organisms. They found that enzymatic digestion was the most effective and least destructive approach for isolating microplastics from biological samples, outperforming acid and alkaline treatments. The study provides improved laboratory protocols that will help scientists more accurately measure microplastic contamination in marine environments and wildlife.

2014 Scientific Reports 1035 citations
Article Tier 2

Streamlined Sampling and Cultivation of the Pelagic Cosmopolitan Larvacean, Oikopleura dioica

This methods paper describes a low-maintenance lab culture system for the marine filter-feeder Oikopleura dioica, a zooplankton organism useful for studying microplastic ingestion. Reliable culturing of this species supports research into how filter-feeders interact with microplastics and other particles in the water column.

2020 Journal of Visualized Experiments 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Flow cytometric analysis of hepatopancreatic cells from Armadillidium vulgare highlights terrestrial isopods as efficient environmental bioindicators in ex vivo settings

Researchers optimized a method for analyzing individual cells from the digestive organ of pill bugs (terrestrial isopods) and used it to detect pollution-related stress across sites with different contamination levels. The findings position these common soil invertebrates as practical, early-warning biological indicators for environmental pollution monitoring.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Efficiency assessment of microplastic extraction from green mussel \(\textit{Perna viridis}\) Linnaeus

This study evaluated and optimized laboratory extraction methods for isolating and identifying microplastics from the tissues of green mussels, which accumulate plastic particles through their filter-feeding habits. Reliable extraction methods are essential for accurately quantifying microplastic contamination in shellfish consumed by humans.

2021 ACADEMIA JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY 3 citations
Article Tier 2

DEVELOPMENT OF A NOVEL PROTOCOL FOR THE EXTRACTION OF SMALL MICROPLASTICS (1-5 µm) FROM BIOLOGICAL TISSUES

Researchers developed a novel extraction protocol to isolate and quantify small microplastics (1–5 µm) from biological tissues, addressing a major gap in marine contamination studies. The method improves detection of these hard-to-analyze particles, which are more likely to penetrate cells and accumulate in organisms.

2025 Journal of Biological Research - Bollettino della Società Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale
Article Tier 2

Optimization of Extraction Method for Microplastic from Invertebrates Using Pancreatic Enzymes

Researchers optimized a method for extracting microplastics from invertebrates using pancreatic enzymes, which digest biological tissue without degrading plastic polymers. Improved extraction methods are essential for accurately measuring microplastic contamination in organisms and for assessing exposure levels across food chains.

2019 Theseus (Ammattikorkeakoulujen)
Article Tier 2

Microplastic extraction from digestive tracts of large decapods

This study developed and validated a method for extracting microplastics from the digestive tracts of large decapod crustaceans, enabling accurate quantification and polymer identification. The protocol minimizes contamination and is suitable for routine monitoring of seafood species.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Enzymatic digestion method development for long-term stored chitinaceous planktonic samples

Researchers developed an enzymatic digestion method for extracting microplastics from long-term preserved chitinaceous planktonic crustacean samples, comparing material from 1985 and 2020 North Sea collections. The method enables retrospective microplastic analysis in archived time-series biological collections, providing a tool for investigating historical changes in marine microplastic exposure.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence, Distribution, and Extraction Methods of Microplastics in Marine Organisms

This review synthesizes global data on microplastic occurrence and distribution across marine organisms, comparing the advantages and limitations of different extraction and identification methods used in the field.

2024
Article Tier 2

Experimental development of a new protocol for extraction and characterization of microplastics in fish tissues: First observations in commercial species from Adriatic Sea

Researchers developed and tested a new protocol for the extraction and characterization of microplastics from environmental samples, optimizing steps for recovery efficiency and polymer identification accuracy.

2015 Marine Environmental Research 768 citations
Article Tier 2

Screening for microplastics in sediment, water, marine invertebrates and fish: Method development and microplastic accumulation

Researchers developed improved methods for extracting microplastics from biological samples and sediments, using enzymatic digestion that achieved 97% particle recovery without damaging the plastics. When applied to field samples from the North Sea and Swedish coast, they found microplastics in 8 of 9 invertebrate species tested and in 68% of brown trout. Mussel tissue contained roughly a thousand times more microplastic particles per kilogram than surrounding sediment or water.

2017 Marine Pollution Bulletin 539 citations
Article Tier 2

Chitinase digestion for the analysis of microplastics in chitinaceous organisms using the terrestrial isopod Oniscus asellus L. as a model organism

Researchers developed and validated a chitinase digestion protocol for extracting microplastics from chitinaceous organisms, using the terrestrial isopod Oniscus asellus as a model, and compared four protocols for dissolving chitin-containing tissue without degrading microplastic particles.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic in wild populations of the omnivorous crab Carcinus aestuarii: A review and a regional-scale test of extraction methods, including microfibres

Researchers compared enzymatic and potassium hydroxide digestion methods for extracting microplastics from wild crab tissues, finding that KOH is faster and cheaper for small organisms while enzymatic digestion is preferable for larger samples requiring longer treatment, with actual microplastic prevalence in wild crabs at just 5.5% — all microfibres, predominantly polyester.

2019 Environmental Pollution 102 citations
Article Tier 2

Extraction and identification of microplastics from mussels: Method development and preliminary results

Scientists developed and validated a method for extracting and identifying microplastics from mussel tissue, then applied it to measure contamination in commercially harvested mussels. The method produced reliable, reproducible results, providing a practical tool for monitoring microplastic levels in one of the world's most widely consumed shellfish.

2021 Italian Journal of Food Safety 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Improvements in histological technique for the ecotoxicological assessment using small biological samples

Researchers improved histological techniques for ecotoxicological assessment of small biological samples, refining tissue processing and staining protocols to better characterize cellular morphology and physiology in small test organisms commonly used in bioassays.

2022 Research Square (Research Square)
Article Tier 2

Identifying a suitable digestion protocol for microplastic extraction from Isidella elongata (Esper, 1788): New insights for cold-water corals

Researchers identified a suitable tissue digestion protocol for extracting microplastics from Isidella tentaculum, a deep-sea coral, helping standardize methodologies for monitoring microplastic pollution in marine invertebrates where existing protocols are lacking.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Plastics
Article Tier 2

Genes of filter-feeding species as a potential toolkit for monitoring microplastic impacts

Researchers developed a genetic toolkit using candidate genes from filter-feeding marine species to monitor the biological impacts of microplastic exposure in natural environments. They identified six genes across nine species that show measurable expression changes when organisms encounter microplastics. The study offers a practical molecular approach for tracking how microplastic pollution is actually affecting wild marine populations.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Improving the proteome coverage of Daphnia magna ‐ implications for future ecotoxicoproteomics studies

This study improved the method for identifying proteins in the water flea Daphnia magna, a key organism used in ecotoxicology research, by optimizing protein extraction. Better proteomic tools will support future studies on how microplastics and other contaminants affect this sentinel species at the molecular level.

2022 PROTEOMICS 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Sampling, Isolating and Identifying Microplastics Ingested by Fish and Invertebrates *

This methodological review critically evaluated sampling, isolation, and identification techniques for microplastics ingested by fish and invertebrates, identifying common sources of error including contamination during processing, particle loss, and misidentification — and recommending standardized protocols.

2020 85 citations