Papers

20 results
|
Article Tier 2

Microplastic consumption and excretion by fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas): Influence of particles size and body shape of fish

Larval fathead minnows were exposed to polyethylene microbeads of two size ranges (63–75 μm and 125–150 μm) and the study found that smaller particles were consumed more readily, excretion was slower for smaller sizes, and body shape influenced consumption rates. The results show that fish particle uptake is size-dependent and that ingested microplastics may persist longer than previously thought.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 82 citations
Article Tier 2

Size-dependent elimination of ingested microplastics in the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

Researchers measured gut retention time and long-term egestion of 1, 10, and 90 μm polystyrene microspheres in the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, finding that smaller microplastics were excreted quickly but detected intermittently for up to 40 days, while larger particles were slowly excreted in bulk before disappearing.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 99 citations
Article Tier 2

Uptake and depuration kinetics of microplastics with different polymer types and particle sizes in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes)

Researchers studied the uptake and depuration kinetics of microplastics with different polymer types and sizes in Japanese medaka fish. They found that smaller particles accumulated more readily in fish tissues and were retained longer than larger ones, with particle distribution varying by organ. The study provides important quantitative data on how microplastic characteristics influence their accumulation and clearance in fish, which is relevant to understanding food chain transfer.

2021 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 98 citations
Article Tier 2

Fish size influences microplastic occurrence in target organs

Researchers examined whether fish body size affects microplastic occurrence in target organs, moving beyond gut content analysis to assess systemic tissue contamination. Larger fish contained more microplastics in their organs than smaller fish, suggesting size-dependent differences in cumulative lifetime exposure.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Effects of excretion of different sizes of orally ingested microplastics in rats

Researchers developed a method to analyze microplastics in rat feces to evaluate how particle size affects excretion after oral ingestion, incorporating an enzymatic digestion step that achieved recovery rates above 80%. They found that smaller microplastics (30-50 µm) had significantly lower fecal excretion rates compared to larger particles (200 µm), suggesting size-dependent retention or translocation in the gut.

2025 Microplastics and Nanoplastics
Article Tier 2

An assessment of the ability to ingest and excrete microplastics by filter-feeders: A case study with the Mediterranean mussel

Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) were exposed to spherical polystyrene microplastics of different sizes and concentrations and examined for tissue-level effects and ingestion/egestion dynamics, with smaller particles showing greater retention and histological changes in digestive tissue. The study provides detailed pathophysiological evidence that MP size governs both retention time and the severity of tissue-level effects in marine filter feeders.

2018 Environmental Pollution 157 citations
Article Tier 2

Morphology of the filtration apparatus of three planktivorous fishes and relation with ingested anthropogenic particles

Researchers examined the filtration apparatus of three planktivorous fish species and compared their feeding morphology to the types of microplastics they ingested, finding that gill structure influenced which particle sizes were retained.

2017 Marine Pollution Bulletin 131 citations
Article Tier 2

Estimation of the uptake and gut retention of microplastics in juvenile marine fish: Mummichogs (Fundulus heteroclitus) and red seabreams (Pagrus major)

This study estimated microplastic uptake and gut retention by two marine fish species exposed to polyethylene particles, finding that ingestion rates were proportional to water concentration and that most particles were eliminated within 24 hours. While most microplastics pass through fish quickly, the continuous exposure in contaminated water means that fish guts frequently contain these particles.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 58 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic uptake and gut retention time in Japanese anchovy (Engraulis japonicus) under laboratory conditions

Researchers found that adult Japanese anchovy selectively ingested 0.3-mm microplastics over 0.85-mm particles based on size but showed no color preference, and that over 90% of ingested microplastics were excreted within 20 hours, suggesting limited retention and accumulation under natural feeding conditions.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 36 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of microplastic prevalence and abundance in freshwater fish species: the effect of fish species habitat, feeding behavior, and Fulton’s condition factor

A meta-analysis of freshwater fish across 42 studies found an average of 2.35 microplastic items per individual, with 80% of research focused on the gastrointestinal tract and 58% on river environments. Contrary to expectations, microplastic ingestion correlated with fish body physiology (size and weight) rather than feeding behavior or habitat, suggesting physical characteristics determine uptake more than ecological niche.

2024 Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Color preferences and gastrointestinal-tract retention times of microplastics by freshwater and marine fishes

Researchers examined microplastic color preferences and gut retention times in freshwater and marine fish, finding that fish preferentially ingested red, yellow, and green particles and that retention times varied significantly across species.

2022 Environmental Pollution 115 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of biological and environmental factors on microplastic ingestion of commercial fish species

Researchers analyzed microplastic ingestion in commercially important fish species, evaluating how biological and environmental factors influence ingestion rates across 2,222 individual fish. The study assessed gastrointestinal tract contents to determine the extent and patterns of microplastic contamination. The findings suggest that both species-specific biology and environmental conditions play important roles in determining microplastic ingestion levels in commercial fish.

2022 Chemosphere 62 citations
Article Tier 2

Size-Dependent Uptake and Depuration of Nanoplastics in Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and Distinct Intestinal Impacts

Researchers tracked how tilapia fish absorb and eliminate nanoplastics of two sizes (86 and 185 nanometers) and found that both accumulated most heavily in the intestine. Smaller nanoplastics caused more physical damage to the intestinal lining, while larger ones disrupted the gut microbiome more severely. Since tilapia is widely consumed worldwide, the finding that nanoplastics build up in fish tissue and damage their guts raises concerns about the safety of farmed fish as food.

2023 Environmental Science & Technology 83 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingestion and retention of biodegradable vs. non-biodegradable microplastics in a tropical coral reef fish: The role of chemical and physical characteristics

Researchers examined how biodegradable versus non-biodegradable microplastics are ingested and retained by juvenile tropical reef fish. The study measured how polymer type, particle shape, size, and color influenced ingestion preferences and gastrointestinal transit time. The dataset provides detailed experimental measurements that help clarify which physical and chemical characteristics of microplastics drive their uptake by marine fish.

2026 Mendeley Data
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Particle Size Effects in Fish and Shellfish: A Review on Feeding, Digestion, Bioaccumulation, and Seafood Safety Risks

This review examines how microplastic particle size determines ingestion rates, tissue penetration, bioaccumulation, and seafood safety risks in fish and shellfish, with nanoplastics identified as the most concerning size class due to their ability to cross epithelial barriers and accumulate in internal organs.

2025 Science and Technology of Engineering Chemistry and Environmental Protection
Article Tier 2

Ingestion and retention of biodegradable vs. non-biodegradable microplastics in a tropical coral reef fish: The role of chemical and physical characteristics

Researchers investigated how biodegradable and non-biodegradable microplastics differ in their ingestion and retention by a tropical coral reef fish species. The study assessed how polymer type, particle shape, size, and color influenced the fish's microplastic ingestion preferences and gut transit times. The findings provide experimental data on the physical and chemical characteristics that drive microplastic uptake in marine organisms.

2026 Mendeley Data
Article Tier 2

Size-dependent adverse effects of microplastics on intestinal microbiota and metabolic homeostasis in the marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma)

Researchers exposed marine medaka fish to different sizes of polystyrene microplastics for 60 days and found that particle size was a key factor in determining health effects. Larger particles (200 micrometers) caused weight gain and fat accumulation, while smaller particles (2 and 10 micrometers) led to liver inflammation and damage. The study also revealed that microplastics disrupted the balance of gut bacteria, particularly with larger particle exposure.

2021 Environment International 214 citations
Article Tier 2

Fish size influences microplastic occurrence in target organs

Researchers tested whether fish body size predicts microplastic burden in organs beyond the gut, finding that larger fish accumulate more plastic in systemic tissues. The findings suggest that organ-level microplastic analysis provides a more complete picture of contamination than gut content surveys alone.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Uptake routes of microplastics in fishes: practical and theoretical approaches to test existing theories

This experimental study tested multiple proposed mechanisms by which fish ingest microplastics — including prey confusion, accidental ingestion, and trophic transfer — using controlled laboratory conditions, finding that feeding behavior type and prey size relative to particle size are key determining factors.

2020 Scientific Reports 330 citations
Article Tier 2

Differentiation in the expression of toxic effects of polyethylene-microplastics on two freshwater fish species: Size matters

Researchers exposed zebrafish and perch to two sizes of polyethylene microplastics for 21 days and found that smaller particles were more toxic, accumulating primarily in the liver while larger ones concentrated in the gills. Both sizes triggered oxidative stress, DNA damage, and activated cell death pathways in both species. The study demonstrates that microplastic particle size is a key factor in determining where the particles end up in fish tissues and how severely they cause harm.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 98 citations