Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Can the Fulton and hepatosomatic indexes be good indicators of charity of the baltic fish according to microplastics pollution?

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination and health condition indices in herring and five bycatch species from the Baltic Sea, finding MPs in all species with the highest occurrence in lumpfish (78.9%). The Fulton condition factor and hepatosomatic index showed limited correlation with MP burden, suggesting these standard health metrics may not reliably indicate MP-related physiological stress.

2025 Global NEST International Conference on Environmental Science & Technology
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Intake, Its Biotic Drivers, and Hydrophobic Organic Contaminant Levels in the Baltic Herring

Researchers investigated microplastic ingestion and hydrophobic organic contaminant levels in Baltic herring along the Swedish west coast, finding microplastics in 22.3% of fish with large geographic variability, though no significant correlation was found between microplastic burden and contaminant concentrations in muscle tissue.

2019 Frontiers in Environmental Science 23 citations
Article Tier 2

The first report on the occurrence of microplastics in commercial fish species and surrounding water from the Baltic Sea (Poland)

Researchers conducted the first comprehensive study of microplastic contamination in both seawater and commercial fish species from the Baltic Sea, collecting surface and water-column samples from multiple sub-regions and examining fish caught as bycatch of Baltic herring, finding microplastics were detected in 100% of fish examined.

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

Microplastics in seawater and fish acquired from the corresponding fishing zones of the Baltic Sea

Microplastics were detected in 100% of seawater and 61% of fish samples collected from corresponding fishing zones of the Baltic Sea, with mean abundances of 19,984 items/m³ in seawater and 3.3 items per fish. The co-sampling design linking fish MP loads to their water column environment provided direct evidence of aquatic exposure driving tissue contamination.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic ingestion by small coastal fish in the northern Baltic Sea, Finland

Researchers found microplastics in 9% of 424 small coastal fish examined in the northern Baltic Sea, with urban Helsinki sites showing the highest prevalence (27.5%), and no relationship found between fish size or species and microplastic ingestion, suggesting coastal urbanization as a key driver.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and potential effects of plastic ingestion by pelagic and demersal fish from the North Sea and Baltic Sea

Researchers examined the occurrence and potential effects of plastic ingestion in pelagic and bottom-dwelling fish from the North Sea and Baltic Sea, finding plastics in both groups. The study contributed to baseline knowledge of microplastic ingestion rates in commercially important fish species in European seas.

2014 Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar-und Meeresforschung (Alfred-Wegener-Institut) 7 citations
Article Tier 2

The first report on the occurrence of microplastics in commercial fish species and surrounding water from the Baltic Sea (Poland)

Researchers conducted the first comprehensive study of microplastic occurrence in commercial fish species and surrounding water from the Polish Baltic Sea, characterizing particle abundance and properties while examining the poorly understood relationship between microplastic concentrations in organisms and their surrounding habitat.

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

Plastic in digestive tracts and gills of cod and herring from the Baltic Sea

Researchers found plastic particles in the digestive tracts and gills of Baltic Sea cod and herring, with ingestion rates and particle types differing between the two species, indicating widespread exposure of commercially important fish to plastic pollution.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparative study on microplastic abundance in fish organs from marine and freshwater ecosystems of the southern Baltic Sea region: influence of habitat zone and feeding preferences

Researchers found microplastics in 58% of 500 fish specimens examined across Baltic Sea and northern Polish freshwater ecosystems, with carnivorous and benthic species showing the highest contamination levels and blue fibers being the most common particle type across all habitats.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin
Article Tier 2

Microlitter in Fish and Benthic Invertebrates of the NE Baltic Sea: Abundance, Composition and Bioindicators

Researchers characterized microlitter abundance, composition, and bioindicator potential in fish and benthic invertebrates from multiple sites in the NE Baltic Sea, including the Gulf of Finland, Gulf of Riga, and western Estonia, following HELCOM methodology. Examining 11 fish species and 6 benthic invertebrate species collected during 2019-2020, the study evaluated resident marine fauna as monitors of microplastic contamination.

2023 International Journal of Environmental Impacts 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic ingestion by fish: Body size, condition factor and gut fullness are not related to the amount of plastics consumed

Researchers examined microplastic ingestion in commercial cod and saithe collected in Iceland, finding particles in about 20% of cod and 17% of saithe stomachs. No significant relationship was found between microplastic ingestion and fish body size, weight, gut fullness, or condition index.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 147 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
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

Testing the health status of marine and fresh waters by investigating microplastics in the stomach contents of different fish species

This PhD project investigated microplastic presence in stomach contents of fish from four sites ranging from a commercial port to a lake, characterizing microplastic types and abundances to assess environmental health status across marine, brackish, and freshwater ecosystems.

2025 CINECA IRIS Institutial Research Information System (University of Genoa)
Article Tier 2

Plastic ingestion by pelagic and demersal fish from the North Sea and Baltic Sea

Researchers examined gastrointestinal tracts of 290 North and Baltic Sea fish and detected plastic in 5.5% of individuals, with pelagic species like herring and mackerel ingesting plastic at three times the rate of bottom-dwelling cod and flounder, and polyethylene making up nearly 40% of identified polymer types.

2015 Marine Pollution Bulletin 618 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Commercial Fishes and By-Catch from Selected FAO Major Fishing Areas of the Southern Baltic Sea

Researchers found microplastics in both edible and non-edible organs of five fish species from the southern Baltic Sea, with 1-12 particles per fish dominated by fibers, and polymers including cellophane, polyamide, polyethylene, and polypropylene identified by FTIR spectroscopy.

2023 Animals 34 citations
Article Tier 2

High microplastics concentration in liver is negatively associated with condition factor in the Benguela hake Merluccius polli

Researchers quantified microplastics in gills, liver, and muscle of 94 Benguela hake caught commercially off northwest Africa, finding that high liver microplastic concentrations were negatively correlated with fish body condition, suggesting physiological costs of microplastic accumulation.

2023 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Fish species, habitat, and capture location outweigh fish mass as drivers of microplastic pollution in Canadian Arctic fishes

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in 435 stomachs and gastrointestinal tracts of seven freshwater fish species from the Canadian Arctic. The study found that fish species, habitat type, and capture location were more important drivers of microplastic levels than fish size, with demersal species and those near larger human populations containing significantly more microplastics.

2026 The Science of The Total Environment
Article Tier 2

Microplastics abundance in four different species of commercial fishes in Bali Strait

Four commercially important fish species in the Bali Strait, Indonesia all contained microplastics in their gastrointestinal tracts, with fragments and fibers being most common. As these fish are widely consumed, this raises concerns about microplastic transfer to humans through the seafood supply chain.

2020 Jurnal Iktiologi Indonesia 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Effective and easy to use extraction method shows low numbers of microplastics in offshore planktivorous fish from the northern Baltic Sea

Microplastics were found at low levels in planktivorous fish from the northern Baltic Sea using a validated alkaline digestion extraction method. The study demonstrates an efficient, validated protocol for detecting microplastics in fish and provides baseline contamination data for Baltic marine food webs.

2017 Marine Pollution Bulletin 68 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

Microplastic contamination and biological alterations in Atlantic wild fish populations, and human health risks associated to fillet consumption

Researchers found microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts, gills, liver, brain, and muscle tissue of wild Atlantic pouting and hake fish, and the contamination was linked to measurable biological changes in the fish. The study also estimated human health risks from eating these fish fillets, developing a new index that combines microplastic intake levels with the hazard level of the specific plastic types found. This work provides a direct link between microplastic pollution in wild fish and potential risks to people who eat seafood regularly.

2025 Marine Environmental Research 7 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Global meta‐analysis reveals diverse effects of microplastics on freshwater and marine fishes

This systematic review and meta-analysis examines the effects of microplastics on fish in both freshwater and ocean environments. The findings show that microplastics reduce feeding, impair digestion, slow growth, and weaken immune function in fish, which is concerning because contaminated fish are a major food source for people worldwide.

2022 Fish and Fisheries 69 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic occurrence in the gastrointestinal tract and gill of bioindicator fish species in the northeastern Mediterranean

Four commercial fish species from the northeastern Mediterranean were examined for microplastic presence in gastrointestinal tracts and gills, with plastics found in all species and fiber being the most common type. The results add to growing evidence that microplastic ingestion is routine for commercially harvested Mediterranean fish.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 73 citations