Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Histological, enzymatic and chemical analyses of the potential effects of differently sized microplastic particles upon long-term ingestion in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed zebrafish to microplastics of varying sizes for extended periods and conducted histological and biochemical analyses, finding no evidence of particle translocation to liver in properly controlled experiments and calling for critical reassessment of studies claiming large microplastics cross biological barriers.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 74 citations
Article Tier 2

Accumulation and Distribution of Fluorescent Microplastics in the Early Life Stages of Zebrafish

Researchers tracked the accumulation and distribution of fluorescent microplastics in early life stages of a freshwater organism, finding that microplastics were taken up and distributed across body tissues. The results help explain how microplastics accumulate in young aquatic organisms and potentially affect their development.

2021 Journal of Visualized Experiments 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Uptake, removal and trophic transfer of fluorescent polyethylene microplastics by freshwater model organisms: the impact of particle size and food availability

Researchers used fluorescent polyethylene microplastics of different sizes to track how they move through a freshwater food chain from algae to water fleas to zebrafish. They found that smaller particles were ingested and transferred more readily between organisms, and that food availability influenced how many microplastics accumulated. The study demonstrates that microplastics can move up the food chain and that particle size plays a key role in how they are transported through aquatic ecosystems.

2024 Aquatic Toxicology 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics exposures of fish: internalization and effects on behavior and growth

This study examined how microplastics affect fish behavior and growth, finding that fish can ingest them but particles pass through the gut relatively quickly with limited effects at tested concentrations. The research highlights challenges in detecting microplastics in aquatic organisms and suggests risk depends heavily on exposure level and particle type.

2018 HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe)
Article Tier 2

Ingestion and effects of virgin polyamide microplastics on Chironomus riparius adult larvae and adult zebrafish Danio rerio

Scientists fed polyamide microplastics to Chironomus riparius larvae and adult zebrafish, finding ingestion in both species, with larger particles retained in fish intestines and both species showing signs of inflammation and oxidative stress.

2020 Chemosphere 68 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in freshwater fishes: Occurrence, impacts and future perspectives

This review synthesizes current knowledge about microplastic contamination in freshwater fish, which serve as important indicators of plastic pollution in rivers and lakes. Researchers found that microplastic ingestion patterns in fish are related to body size, feeding habits, and local urbanization levels, with controlled studies showing various effects on fish physiology and behavior. While fish can typically expel most microplastics quickly, certain particle shapes and sizes may remain in the body or cross into other organs through the intestinal wall.

2021 Fish and Fisheries 149 citations
Article Tier 2

Uptake, bioaccumulation, biodistribution and depuration of polystyrene nanoplastics in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers used advanced mass spectrometry to track how polystyrene nanoplastics accumulate in and are cleared from zebrafish tissues over time. The nanoplastics concentrated most in the intestine, liver, and gills, with only partial clearance after the exposure ended. This study provides important data on how persistent nanoplastics can be in living organisms, which helps scientists better assess the long-term risks of plastic particle exposure.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 53 citations
Article Tier 2

Zebrafish can recognize microplastics as inedible materials: Quantitative evidence of ingestion behavior

Zebrafish were exposed to polyethylene microplastics alongside food particles at various ratios, with results showing that fish recognized MPs as inedible—exhibiting spitting behavior and spending more time on prey capture—but ingested some particles incidentally when food was present. The study provides quantitative evidence that small freshwater fish have limited but real ability to discriminate plastic from food, and that co-ingestion with food is the dominant intake route.

2018 The Science of The Total Environment 93 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of pristine or contaminated polyethylene microplastics on zebrafish development

Researchers examined the effects of both pristine and pollutant-contaminated polyethylene microplastics on zebrafish development through chronic exposure. The study assessed how microplastics, both alone and as carriers of adsorbed organic pollutants, affect developing fish. The findings provide new insights into how contaminated microplastics may create additional routes for toxic compounds to enter aquatic food webs.

2022 Chemosphere 66 citations
Article Tier 2

On the Novel Process of Pristine Microplastic Bio-fragmentation by Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers discovered that zebrafish can bio-fragment pristine microplastics within their digestive systems, demonstrating a novel biological degradation process that breaks larger microplastic particles into smaller fragments.

2023 Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Fluorescent Polypropylene Nanoplastics for Studying Uptake, Biodistribution, and Excretion in Zebrafish Embryos

Researchers developed a method to produce fluorescent polypropylene nanoplastics and tracked their movement in zebrafish embryos. The study found that the nanoplastics were ingested, distributed in the intestine, and eventually excreted, providing a new tool for assessing the biological risks of environmentally relevant plastic particles at the nanoscale.

2022 ACS Omega 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Visible Combined Near-Infrared in Situ Imaging Revealed Dynamic Effects of Microplastic Fibers and Beads in Zebrafish

Researchers used a combined visible and near-infrared imaging technique to track microplastic fibers and beads in live zebrafish in real time. They observed that microplastics were quickly ingested and could be retained briefly in the digestive tract before being eliminated. The study provides new insights into the dynamic behavior of microplastics inside living organisms and whether any tissue damage that occurs during transit can be reversed.

2024 Environmental Science & Technology 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Uptake and Accumulation of Polystyrene Microplastics in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) and Toxic Effects in Liver

Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics of two different sizes and tracked where the particles accumulated in the body. They found that smaller particles (5 micrometers) built up in the gills, liver, and gut, while larger particles (20 micrometers) mainly stayed in the gills and gut. The microplastics caused liver inflammation, oxidative stress, and disrupted fat metabolism, suggesting that ingested microplastics can damage internal organs in fish.

2016 Environmental Science & Technology 1980 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantitative assessment and monitoring of microplastics and nanoplastics distributions and lipid metabolism in live zebrafish using hyperspectral stimulated Raman scattering microscopy

Researchers developed a new imaging technique to watch microplastics and nanoplastics accumulate in live zebrafish in real time, without needing dyes or labels. They found that these tiny plastic particles built up in the fish's digestive system and disrupted fat metabolism, providing direct visual evidence of how micro- and nanoplastics can interfere with basic biological processes.

2024 Environment International 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Acute toxic effects of polyethylene microplastic on adult zebrafish

Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to polyethylene microplastics of various sizes to identify physical effects, behavioral changes, and gene expression impacts. They found that microplastic ingestion varied by particle size and that exposure altered expression of detoxification and reproduction-related genes. The study suggests that microplastic pollution at environmentally relevant concentrations could affect both the health and reproductive capacity of fish.

2019 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 290 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingestion and Depuration of Microplastics by a Planktivorous Coral Reef Fish, Pomacentrus amboinensis

Researchers exposed a coral reef planktivorous fish (Pomacentrus amboinensis) to environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastics and found ingestion in all exposed fish, with most particles cleared within 48 hours of depuration, suggesting rapid gut turnover limits longer-term accumulation under realistic conditions.

2021 Frontiers in Environmental Science 49 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplasts in Freshwater Fish – Problems and Challenges

This review examines microplastic contamination of freshwater fish, covering ingestion evidence from over 150 species, the mechanisms of accumulation in gastrointestinal and other tissues, potential health impacts, and challenges in standardizing quantification methodologies.

2025 Journal Scientific and Applied Research
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

Virgin microplastics are not causing imminent harm to fish after dietary exposure

Researchers exposed adult fish to environmentally relevant concentrations of virgin microplastics through their diet over an extended period and found no significant adverse effects on growth, condition, or organ health. The study suggests that clean, unweathered microplastics at realistic concentrations may not cause immediate harm to adult fish, though the authors note that weathered or chemically contaminated particles could produce different outcomes.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 252 citations
Article Tier 2

Toward an Improved Understanding of the Ingestion and Trophic Transfer of Microplastic Particles: Critical Review and Implications for Future Research

A comprehensive review of over 800 species found that while microplastics are routinely found in the digestive tracts of aquatic organisms, they do not appear to bioaccumulate or biomagnify through food webs, with over 99% of observations locating particles in the gastrointestinal tract rather than tissues. The review calls for more standardized sampling and reporting to enable better temporal and spatial trend analysis.

2020 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 179 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Fish: A Comprehensive Review

This review synthesizes research on microplastics in fish, covering contamination sources, detection methods, and impacts on wild and farmed populations globally — and examining how plastic particles in fish tissues may transfer to humans through seafood consumption.

2025 Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries
Article Tier 2

Toxicity of microplastics in fish: A short review

This short review summarizes current knowledge on microplastic occurrence in fish, covering sources and pathways of ingestion, impacts on fish physiology and behavior, and potential strategies for monitoring and reducing contamination.

2024 Journal of Toxicological Studies
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Freshwater Systems: A Review on Its Accumulation and Effects on Fishes

This review covers the accumulation and effects of microplastics in freshwater fish, including how fish ingest them through feeding and the physical and chemical harm they can cause. Since many freshwater fish species are consumed by humans, the findings are relevant to food safety.

2018 Preprints.org 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Species-specific effect of microplastics on fish embryos and observation of toxicity kinetics in larvae

Researchers compared microplastic ingestion across three commercial fish species with different feeding types (carnivores, omnivores, filter feeders), finding that carnivores ingested the least microplastic while omnivores were less able to eliminate them than filter feeders.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 117 citations