Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Commercially Important Small Pelagic Fish Species From South Africa

Researchers found microplastics in three commercially important small pelagic fish species from South African waters, with South African sardines showing the highest mean concentration at 1.58 items per individual. Microfibres accounted for 80% of ingested microplastics across all three species, with polyethylene-propylene-diene copolymer among the dominant polymers detected.

2020 Frontiers in Marine Science 66 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of microplastics in Antarctic fishes: Abundance, size, shape, and polymer composition

Researchers examined four species of Antarctic fish and found microplastics in all of them, with fibers being the most common shape and polypropylene, polyamide, and polyethylene the most common types. Even in one of the most remote regions on Earth, fish are ingesting plastic particles that come from common household materials. This study demonstrates that microplastic contamination has reached every corner of the planet's oceans.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in large migratory fishes collected in the open Atlantic Ocean

Researchers found microplastic contamination in large migratory fish collected during a circumnavigation of the Atlantic Ocean, with all seven commercially important species containing microplastics predominantly as fibers in their gastrointestinal tracts.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 34 citations
Article Tier 2

The uptake of macroplastic & microplastic by demersal & pelagic fish in the Northeast Atlantic around Scotland

Researchers examined plastic ingestion in coastal flatfish and offshore pelagic and demersal fish around Scotland, finding that nearly half of coastal fish contained plastic while only 2.4% of offshore fish did, with polyamide fibers being the most commonly identified polymer type across both environments.

2017 Marine Pollution Bulletin 211 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic prevalence in marine fish from onshore Beibu Gulf, South China Sea

Researchers examined 271 fish across 32 species from the Beibu Gulf and found microplastics in the majority of samples, with fibers being the most common type and abundance varying by species, feeding habits, and habitat.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantification and characterization of microplastics in commercial fish from southern New Zealand

Researchers quantified microplastic ingestion in ten commercially important fish species from southern New Zealand using microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The study found that 75% of fish contained microplastics, with an average of 2.5 particles per fish, predominantly fibers in blue, black, and red colors, composed mainly of polyester and polyethylene terephthalate.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 75 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in commercial fish and their habitats in the important fishing ground of the Black Sea: Characteristic, concentration, and risk assessment

Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in six commercial fish species from the Black Sea and found microplastics in all environmental areas studied, including surface water, the water column, sediments, and fish. Fibers were the most common type of microplastic found, and bottom-dwelling fish had higher contamination levels than fish living closer to the surface. Since these are commonly eaten fish species, the findings are relevant to human dietary exposure to microplastics.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Presence and characterization of microplastics in fish of commercial importance from the Biobío region in central Chile

Six commercially important fish species from coastal and oceanic habitats in central Chile were analyzed for microplastics, with red microfibers (70–100% of particles) as the dominant form and polyester, PE, and PET as the main polymers, and coastal species showing higher abundance and larger fibers than oceanic species. The study documents microplastic contamination in Chilean commercial fisheries and a habitat-dependent difference in plastic burden.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 129 citations
Article Tier 2

Widespread microplastic ingestion in Colombian Caribbean marine fish: Trophic influence, spatial-temporal trends, and polymer composition

Researchers examined three commercially important fish species from the Colombian Caribbean and found microplastics in over 82% of individuals across both continental and island waters. Fiber and fragment shapes were the most common types, with higher concentrations found in coastal areas and during the wet season. The findings suggest that microplastic ingestion is widespread among Caribbean fish, with potential implications for seafood consumers in the region.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 2 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

Assessing microplastic abundances in freshwater fishes in a subtropical African reservoir

Scientists examined freshwater fish from a reservoir in South Africa and found microplastics in nearly 87% of the fish across eight species. Fibers were the most common type of microplastic, found in both the gills and digestive tracts of the fish. Since these fish are consumed by local communities, the widespread contamination raises concerns about human exposure to microplastics through freshwater fish, an understudied area compared to marine seafood.

2024 Discover Sustainability 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence, distribution and characteristics of microplastics in gastrointestinal tract and gills of commercial marine fish from Malaysia

Researchers examined 158 commercial marine fish from 16 species in Malaysia and found microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts and gills of all species studied. Fibers were the most common microplastic type, and the contamination levels varied between sampling locations. The findings add to growing evidence that microplastics are widespread in commercially important fish species, raising questions about the potential for human exposure through seafood consumption.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 140 citations
Article Tier 2

Low abundance of microplastics in commercially caught fish across southern Australia

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in nine commercially important fish species purchased from seafood markets across 4,000 km of southern Australia. They found that about 35.5% of fish had at least one microplastic particle in their gastrointestinal tract, with an average load of 0.94 pieces per fish, and polyolefin was the dominant polymer type. While microplastic ingestion was widespread across species and locations, the levels were lower than those reported in similar global studies.

2021 Environmental Pollution 79 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantification, identification, and chemical characterization of microplastics (MPs) in commercial fishes from the Palk Strait, Southeast India

Researchers examined microplastics in the tissues and guts of 75 commercially important fish from the Palk Strait in Southeast India, finding an average of 115 particles per individual. Fibers were the most common form at 51%, with polyethylene and polypropylene as the dominant polymers, and particle sizes ranged from 0.1 to 1.0 millimeters. The presence of microplastics in edible fish tissues suggests a potential route of human exposure through seafood consumption.

2026 Mendeley Data
Article Tier 2

Quantification, identification, and chemical characterization of microplastics (MPs) in commercial fishes from the Palk Strait, Southeast India

Researchers examined microplastics in the tissues and guts of 75 commercially important fish from the Palk Strait in Southeast India, finding an average of 115 particles per individual. Fibers were the most common form at 51%, with polyethylene and polypropylene as the dominant polymers, and particle sizes ranged from 0.1 to 1.0 millimeters. The presence of microplastics in edible fish tissues suggests a potential route of human exposure through seafood consumption.

2026 Mendeley Data
Article Tier 2

Enrichment characteristics of microplastics in Antarctic benthic and pelagic fish and krill near the Antarctic Peninsula

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in 15 species of Antarctic fish and Antarctic krill collected near the Antarctic Peninsula. They found microplastics in all species studied, with fish accumulating significantly more particles than krill, and fibers being the most common type. The study demonstrates that microplastic pollution has reached even the most remote marine ecosystems on Earth.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplasticcontaminationincommercial marine fish: A case study in Johor, Malaysia

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in flesh from four commercial marine fish species (Indian mackerel, yellowtail scad, forktail threadfin bream, black pomfret) from Johor, Malaysia. Pelagic fish species had higher MP concentrations (averaging 0.022 and 0.021 particles/g) than demersal species, with black fragments under 200 µm being the most common particle type.

2025 Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology)
Article Tier 2

Research and characterization of fibrous microplastics and natural microfibers in pelagic and benthic fish species of commercial interest

Researchers assessed microfiber contamination in European anchovy and red mullet, two commercially important Mediterranean fish species. The study found microfibers in 53% of anchovies and 60% of red mullet, with an average of 6.9 and 9.2 microfibers per individual, respectively, composed of polymers including cellulose, cotton, and polyester. These findings confirm that fibrous microplastics are widespread in both pelagic and deep-sea food webs, with potential implications for seafood consumers.

2023 Italian Journal of Food Safety 18 citations
Article Tier 2

The presence of microplastics in the digestive tract of commercial fishes off Pantai Indah Kapuk coast, Jakarta, Indonesia

Commercial fish from nine species collected at the Pantai Indah Kapuk coast in Jakarta were dissected for microplastics, with 97.13% of 174 fish containing an average of ~12 particles per individual dominated by fibers and fragments of PE, PP, and PS. The study documents near-universal microplastic contamination in urban coastal fisheries in Indonesia with implications for seafood consumers.

2019 Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity 109 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingestion of microplastics by pelagic fish from the Moroccan Central Atlantic coast

Researchers found microplastics in the stomachs of three small pelagic fish species caught along the Moroccan Central Atlantic coast, confirming plastic ingestion in commercially important species in a region where marine litter is predominantly plastic. The study adds to growing evidence of microplastic contamination in North African Atlantic fisheries.

2020 Environmental Pollution 62 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing the bioaccumulation of microplastics in commercially important fish species

Researchers assessed microplastic accumulation in commercially important fish species from coastal and offshore waters, finding significant differences between species based on feeding strategies and habitat depth. Filter feeders and omnivorous species accumulated more microplastics than others, reflecting diet-based differences across trophic levels. The study raises concerns about human dietary exposure to microplastics through widely consumed seafood products.

2025 International Journal of Aquatic Research and Environmental Studies 1 citations
Article Tier 2

The influences of spatial-temporal variability and ecological drivers on microplastic in marine fish in Hong Kong

Researchers found that over 57% of marine fish in Hong Kong waters contained microplastics, with higher abundance in fish from more polluted western waters during the wet season, and that omnivorous fish ingested significantly more microplastics than carnivorous fish regardless of collection location or season.

2023 Environmental Pollution 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic ingestion by pelagic and benthic fish and diet composition: A case study in the NW Iberian shelf

Researchers found microplastics in 78% of fish examined across four pelagic and benthic species from the NW Iberian shelf, with ingestion rates varying by feeding ecology and habitat depth, and identified predominantly fibers and fragments in gastrointestinal contents following alkaline tissue digestion.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 97 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in commercial fish species in southern coastal region of India

Researchers examined 220 commercial fish from the southern coast of India over six months and found microplastic contamination in all samples, with an average of 3.2 to 7.6 particles per fish. The most common types were fibers and fragments, primarily composed of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyamide. The findings indicate that microplastic contamination in commercially valuable fish species is widespread along the Indian coast, raising concerns about food safety.

2022 Chemosphere 60 citations