Papers

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Article Tier 2

Microplastics occurrence in gills and digestive tract tissues of blue crabs collected from the Persian Gulf coast

Researchers documented microplastics in the gills and digestive tracts of blue crabs from coastal waters, finding MP particles of diverse types and sizes in both tissues and assessing implications for human health from consuming these commercially important crustaceans.

2025 Environmental Health Engineering and Management
Article Tier 2

Ecological traits influence the bioaccumulation of microplastics in commercially important estuarine crabs from the southeastern Gulf of Mexico

Researchers found that microplastic accumulation in two commercially important estuarine crab species in the Gulf of Mexico varied significantly based on ecological traits such as feeding behavior and habitat use, with gills and digestive tracts showing higher contamination than muscle tissue.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 30 citations
Article Tier 2

The Contamination of Microplastic Debris in Blue Swimming Crab Portunus pelagicus (Linnaeus, 1758) from Artisanal Fisheries in the Eastern Gulf of Thailand

Researchers collected blue swimming crabs from the Gulf of Thailand and found microplastics in 62.5% of external body parts and 72.2% of internal parts, with fibers dominating and gut tissue showing the highest contamination. The findings indicate widespread MP ingestion in commercially harvested crabs and potential food safety implications.

2025 Toxics
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Blue Crab (Portunus pelagicus) Caught by Bandaran, Bangkalan Fishermen at Different Sizes

This Indonesian study found microplastics in the digestive tracts of blue swimming crabs from Bangkalan waters, with larger crabs ingesting more particles. The results raise food safety concerns because blue swimming crabs are commercially important and widely consumed in Indonesia.

2023 Symposium of Biology Education (Symbion) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Litter in alien species of possible commercial interest: The blue crab (Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896) as case study

Researchers examined blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) from an Italian lagoon and detected plastic fragments and synthetic fibers including polyethylene and PET in stomach contents, with microplastic fibers such as nylon and polyester also found in female gonad tissue, suggesting this invasive species can serve as a pollution indicator.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics uptake and accumulation in the digestive system of the mud crab Rhithropanopeus harrisii

Lab experiments with Harris mud crabs showed the crabs readily ingested microplastics, which accumulated in their digestive systems. While plastic exposure did not significantly affect crab growth during the experiment, the findings confirm that crustaceans in brackish estuaries can ingest and retain microplastics.

2020 Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences 19 citations
Review Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in wild populations of decapod crustaceans: A review

Researchers reviewed the occurrence and characteristics of microplastics found in wild populations of decapod crustaceans including crabs and shrimps. They found that fibrous microplastics smaller than 1 mm were the most commonly detected type, and that edible portions generally contained fewer microplastics than non-edible parts. The review highlights the importance of understanding microplastic contamination in commercially valuable crustaceans for both ecological and food safety assessments.

2021 Chemosphere 74 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing the presence of microplastics in fiddler crabs (Afruca tangeri) and sediments of the salt marshes of Cadiz Bay (Spain).

This study assessed microplastic presence in fiddler crabs and sediments from coastal environments, where plastic accumulation can disrupt the fauna that depends on these habitats. Microplastics were found in both the crabs and surrounding sediments, indicating contamination throughout the coastal food web.

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

The Ecological Implication of Microplastic in Crabs from a Tropical Lagoon: Ingested Microplastic in Mud Crab Scylla serrata

Researchers examined microplastic ingestion by crabs from a tropical lagoon in West Africa, quantifying particles found in digestive tissues and assessing ecological implications for the local ecosystem. Widespread microplastic ingestion was documented across crab species and size classes.

2024 Water 6 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Macroecotoxicological approaches to emerging patterns of microplastic bioaccumulation in crabs from estuarine and marine environments

Smaller, shorter-lived crabs and those from estuarine intertidal/muddy habitats accumulated significantly more microplastics, with burrowing species holding more particles than omnivorous ones. Crabs at lower latitudes -- likely due to mangrove trapping effects -- and non-human-consumed species showed higher microplastic loads, with colorless PA, PP, and PET fibers (1-5 mm) predominating.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingestion and polymeric risk assessment of microplastic contamination in commercially important brachyuran crab Portunus sanguinolentus

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in a commercially important crab species from three fishing harbors in India and found plastics in every location sampled. The crabs contained an average of 0.67 microplastic particles per gram, with polyethylene and polystyrene among the most common types, and pollution levels rated as very high risk at all sites. Since these crabs are widely eaten, the findings suggest that seafood consumers may be regularly ingesting microplastics.

2023 Frontiers in Marine Science 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingestion and adherence of microplastics by estuarine mysid shrimp

Researchers investigated how estuarine mysid shrimp ingest and accumulate microplastics both internally and on their external body surfaces. The study found microplastics in the shrimp's bodies and fecal pellets, and feeding experiments revealed that these organisms readily consume plastic particles, raising concerns about microplastic transfer through marine food webs.

2024 Marine Environmental Research 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing the presence of microplastics in fiddler crabs (Afruca tangeri) and sediments of the salt marshes of Cadiz Bay (Spain).

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in fiddler crabs and surrounding coastal sediments, finding plastic particles in both organisms and their habitat. The results demonstrate that microplastics are integrated into coastal invertebrate food webs through both direct ingestion and sediment contact.

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

A baseline study of microplastics in the burrowing crab (Neohelice granulata) from a temperate southwestern Atlantic estuary

Researchers conducted a baseline study of microplastic contamination in the burrowing crab Neohelice granulata and water samples from the Bahia Blanca Estuary in Argentina, finding microplastics in all specimens and water column samples, predominantly blue fibers under 1500 micrometres. Gills contained higher microplastic abundances than digestive tracts, suggesting adherence to gill surfaces as the primary uptake route for this key estuarine species.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 81 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingestion of microplastics and microfibers by the invasive blue crab Callinectes sapidus (Rathbun 1896) in the Balearic Islands, Spain

Researchers examined the stomach contents of 120 invasive blue crabs collected from the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea and found that nearly 66% contained microplastics or microfibers. The most common particles were fibers, with an average of 1.4 particles per individual. The study highlights the widespread ingestion of microplastics by this invasive species and raises concerns about contaminant transfer through marine food webs.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantification of microplastics in sympatric species with different ecological habits that inhabit a highly impacted area of Baixada Santista

Researchers quantified microplastic contamination in sediment, water, and tissues (gills, muscle, hepatopancreas, and digestive tract) of three sympatric mangrove crab species with different ecological habits in the highly impacted Baixada Santista estuary, Brazil. The study found microplastic accumulation across all sampled matrices and examined physiological effects in Goniopsis cruentata, Aratus pisonii, and Minuca rapax, demonstrating how feeding behavior and habitat use influence microplastic body burden in crustaceans.

2025 LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Article Tier 2

Ingestion and translocation of microplastics in tissues of deposit-feeding crabs (Grapsoidea, Ocypodoidea) in Kochi estuary, Japan

More than half of 116 intertidal crabs collected from a Japanese estuary contained microplastics, with PET fragments dominating and particles concentrated primarily in the gut. Smaller deposit-feeding crab species carried a higher microplastic burden relative to body weight than larger omnivorous species, showing that feeding behavior and body size both shape how much plastic wildlife accumulates in contaminated estuaries.

2023 Marine Environmental Research 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Zooplankton-microplastic exposure in Delaware coastal waters: Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) larvae case study

Researchers modeled how blue crab larvae are exposed to microplastics during their offshore migration through Delaware coastal waters. The study identified three key mechanisms that elevate microplastic exposure for zooplankton, including transport into microplastic-laden tidelines, suggesting that larval organisms face significant contamination risk in estuarine environments.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Scylla Serrata: A baseline study from southwest India

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in the mud crab Scylla serrata from mangrove habitats on India's southwestern coast and found an average of about 29 microplastic particles per individual. Fibers were the dominant type, and polypropylene and polyethylene were the most common polymers detected. The study establishes a baseline for microplastic presence in a commercially important crab species, raising questions about potential human exposure through seafood consumption.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in the dominant crabs at the intertidal zone of Chongming Island, Yangtze Estuary

This study investigated microplastic contamination in dominant intertidal crabs (Chiromantes dehaani) at Chongming Island in the Yangtze Estuary, finding widespread microplastic ingestion in a species whose burrowing and bioturbation behaviors may redistribute plastics in sediment.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of mangrove restoration on microplastic bioaccumulation in fiddler crabs across degraded, restored, and natural ecosystems

Researchers compared microplastic accumulation in fiddler crabs across degraded, restored, and natural mangrove ecosystems in the Southern Gulf of Mexico. They found that mangrove restoration influenced the amount and types of microplastics that accumulated in the crabs and surrounding sediment. The study suggests that restoring mangrove habitats may help reduce microplastic exposure for the organisms living within them.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Can fiddler crab bioturbation activity in situ modify the distribution of microplastics in sediments and the influence on their bioaccumulation?

Researchers examined fiddler crab (Minuca rapax) bioturbation in mangrove sediments of the southern Gulf of Mexico, finding that crab burrowing activity concentrated microplastics in burrow sediments and that the characteristics of microplastics ingested by the crabs reflected those found in burrows, with the degree of bioturbation-driven MP concentration varying with local urbanization levels.

2022
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in brown shrimp (Crangon crangon, Linnaeus 1758) from coastal waters of the Southern North Sea and Channel area

Researchers examined brown shrimp caught from the North Sea and found microplastics in their digestive tracts, documenting contamination in a commercially important crustacean consumed widely by humans in northern Europe.

2015 Marine Pollution Bulletin 725 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in wild shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei from the Huizache-Caimanero Coastal lagoon, SE Gulf of California

Researchers found microplastics — predominantly fibers and fragments — in the gastrointestinal tracts, gills, and exoskeletons of wild shrimp from a Gulf of California coastal lagoon, with the gut containing far higher concentrations than other tissues, raising food safety concerns for human consumers.

2022 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 31 citations