Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Two decades of plastic exposure in freshwater fishes from Romania

Researchers reviewed two decades of microplastic contamination records in freshwater fish from Romania, finding increasing prevalence over time across multiple species and identifying ingestion, trophic transfer, and bioaccumulation as the primary exposure pathways.

2025 Preprints.org
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the Danube River and Its Main Tributaries—Ingestion by Freshwater Macroinvertebrates

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in the Danube River and its major tributaries and analyzed ingestion by freshwater fish species collected from multiple sites. Microplastics were detected in a significant proportion of fish, with ingestion rates correlating with local plastic contamination levels, documenting widespread plastic exposure across the Danube watershed's fish communities.

2024 Water 9 citations
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

Investigation of Microplastics Presence in the Dambovita River

Researchers investigated the presence and distribution of microplastics in the Dambovita River, contributing to growing evidence of plastic pollution in freshwater systems across Romania.

2023 International Journal of Conservation Science 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution at Different Trophic Levels of Freshwater Fish in a Variety of Türkiye`s Lakes and Dams

This study surveyed microplastic contamination in seven freshwater fish species from lakes and reservoirs across Türkiye, finding microplastic particles in the gastrointestinal tracts of all 406 fish examined. All ingested microplastics were fibres, predominantly blue in colour, suggesting textile sources. The broad geographic scope and 100% prevalence across species and water bodies indicate that microplastic contamination of freshwater fish is widespread throughout Türkiye, with implications for human exposure through fish consumption.

2023 Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization and enumeration of microplastic pollution in three fish species of the Upper Mississippi River

Researchers found 891 microplastic particles across 281 fish from three species in the Upper Mississippi River, with fibers being the most common type and smaller fish containing proportionally more microplastics than larger ones. This confirms microplastic ingestion is widespread in freshwater fish — not just marine species — and the presence of styrene-isoprene, polyester, and ABS polymers highlights the diverse plastic sources contaminating major river systems.

2023 Minds at UW (University of Wisconsin)
Article Tier 2

Evidence of microplastic contamination in the food chain: an assessment of their presence in the gastrointestinal tract of native fish

Researchers found microplastics, mainly polyethylene and polypropylene, in the guts of fish from the Swat and Kabul rivers in Pakistan. These rivers are primary freshwater sources for the region, and the contaminated fish are regularly consumed by local communities. The findings confirm that freshwater fish from polluted rivers are a pathway for microplastic exposure in people's diets.

2024 Italian Journal of Food Science 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment on Microplastics Contamination in Freshwater Fish: a Case Study of the Ubolratana Reservoir, Thailand

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in freshwater fish from the Ubolratana Reservoir, Thailand, finding that 96.4% of 14 examined species had ingested microplastics, and assessed abundance, size, colour, and shape of particles from stomach and intestinal contents across sampling stations.

2021 International Journal of Geomate 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Baseline biomonitoring of microplastic pollution in freshwater fish from the Chishui River, China: Insights into accumulation patterns and influencing factors

This first-ever biomonitoring study of the Chishui River in China found microplastics in all 31 fish species examined, with an average of about 240 particles per gram in both gills and intestines. Bottom-dwelling fish accumulated significantly more microplastics than those swimming near the surface, and the fish contained twice as many plastic polymer types as were found in the surrounding water and sediment. The widespread contamination of freshwater fish with microplastics raises concerns about human exposure through fish consumption.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparison of microplastic intake in two fish species from different functional feeding groups in Europe's second-largest river

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in two fish species — bleak and round goby — along a 1,716 km transect of the Danube River using standardized sampling protocols. MPs were detected in both species across the entire river length, with contamination levels varying by species and location.

2025 Chemosphere
Article Tier 2

Prevalence of microplastics in commonly consumed fish species of the river Old Brahmaputra, Bangladesh

Researchers found microplastics in nearly 59% of edible fish from Bangladesh's Old Brahmaputra river, with polyethylene fibers and pellets dominating, and ingestion rates linked to fish size, feeding behavior, and downstream location.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in freshwater fish from Central European lowland river (Widawa R., SW Poland)

More than half of gudgeon and roach fish collected from a small Polish river had ingested microplastic-like particles, with no significant difference by sex, feeding behavior, or location relative to a dam. The findings suggest microplastic ingestion by freshwater fish is widespread and not driven by a single local source.

2020 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 57 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and exposure analysis of microplastic in the gut and muscle tissue of riverine fish in Kermanshah province of Iran

Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in the gut and muscle tissue of fish from the Qarasu River in Iran, finding microplastics in all species examined. The estimated human dietary intake through fish consumption was calculated at approximately 174 and 127 particles per kilogram of body weight per year for adults and children respectively, highlighting the potential for microplastic exposure through food.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 52 citations
Article Tier 2

First Evidence of Microplastic Ingestion by Riverine Fish From the Freshwater of Northwest Peninsular Malaysia

Researchers found microplastics in the guts of multiple fish species from two rivers in northwest Malaysia, with some species averaging nearly 50 microplastic particles per gram of body weight. The dominant particles were fibers and fragments of polyethylene and polypropylene — findings that signal widespread contamination of freshwater food sources and raise concerns about human exposure through fish consumption.

2024 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and heavy metals in freshwater fish: A comprehensive study of contamination and health risks

Researchers simultaneously assessed microplastic and heavy metal contamination in two fish species from Iran's Kashkan River, finding microplastics in 79% of the 48 specimens examined. The study also found heavy metal levels that exceeded safe limits, raising human health concerns for communities consuming these fish.

2025 Environmental Research
Article Tier 2

Abundance, characteristics and variation of microplastics in different freshwater fish species from Bangladesh

Researchers examined 48 freshwater fish from 18 species in Bangladesh and found microplastics in the digestive tracts of over 73% of the fish studied. Fibers were the most common shape, and the plastics were primarily polyethylene and polypropylene-based polymers. Bottom-dwelling fish contained more microplastics than those living higher in the water column, suggesting that contaminated sediments are a significant source of exposure for freshwater species.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 220 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic ingestion in invasive mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki): a nationwide survey from Türkiye

Researchers conducted a nationwide survey of microplastic ingestion in 621 invasive mosquitofish across 24 freshwater sites in Turkey. They found that fibers were the dominant particle shape at 66%, with PET and polyethylene being the most common polymer types, and that fish from sites with higher anthropogenic pressure contained more microplastics. The study provides large-scale evidence that freshwater fish widely ingest microplastics, with contamination levels reflecting local human activity.

2026 Figshare
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

Factors affecting microplastic accumulation by wild fish: A case study in the Nandu River, South China

Researchers examined microplastic accumulation in 179 wild fish across 27 species in the Nandu River in southern China, finding microplastics in over 90% of fish sampled. Surprisingly, factors like fish size, feeding habits, and habitat did not significantly affect how much microplastic fish accumulated, suggesting that intake may be largely random. The study highlights that smaller fish face proportionally higher microplastic exposure relative to their body weight and may be more vulnerable to harmful effects.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 86 citations
Article Tier 2

Eco Toxicological Assessment of Micro Plastic Ingestion in Freshwater Fishes: A Case Study on Bioaccumulation and Histopathological Alterations

Researchers assessed microplastic accumulation in three freshwater fish species (tilapia, rohu, catla) from a major river system, finding microplastics in gastrointestinal tracts and associated histopathological damage in gills, liver, and kidneys.

2025 Asian Journal of Research in Zoology
Article Tier 2

Worldwide contamination of fish with microplastics: A brief global overview

A literature review from March 2019 to March 2020 synthesized worldwide data on microplastic contamination in fish, finding that a median of 60% of fish from 198 species across 24 countries contained microplastics in their organs. Carnivorous species ingested more microplastics than herbivores, consistent with trophic transfer and bioaccumulation through food webs.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 144 citations
Article Tier 2

‘The Plastic Nile’: First Evidence of Microplastic Contamination in Fish from the Nile River (Cairo, Egypt)

Researchers provided the first evidence of microplastic contamination in fish from the Nile River in Cairo, Egypt, finding that over 75% of sampled Nile tilapia and catfish contained microplastics in their digestive tracts, with fibers and fragments being the dominant particle types.

2020 Toxics 107 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

Microplastic Contamination in Freshwater Fish: First Insights from Gelingüllü Reservoir (Türkiye)

Researchers conducted the first study of microplastic contamination in freshwater fish from Gelingullu Reservoir in Turkey, examining common carp, mirror carp, and European perch. Microplastics were found in 75% of the 77 fish examined, with fibers being the dominant type and particles smaller than 100 micrometers being most prevalent. Polystyrene, polyester, and polypropylene were the main polymers identified across gill and gastrointestinal tract samples.

2025 Water Air & Soil Pollution 7 citations