Microplastic in fish – A global synthesis

Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean

Jambeck, J. R., Geyer, R., Wilcox, C., Siegler, T. R., Perryman, M., Andrady, A., Narayan, R., & Law, K. L. (2015) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1260352 · Cited by 13,163

Data Analysis

Wickham, H. (2016) · Use R! · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-24277-4_9 · Cited by 12,675

Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: The PRISMA statement

Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., & Altman, D. G. (2010) · International Journal of Surgery · doi:10.1016/j.ijsu.2010.02.007 · Cited by 12,156

Microplastics in the marine environment: a review of the methods used for identification and quantification

Hidalgo-Ruz, V., Gutow, L., Thompson, R. C., & Thiel, M. (2012) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es2031505 · Cited by 5,440

River plastic emissions to the world’s oceans

Lebreton, L. C. M., van der Zwet, J., Damsteeg, J.-W., Slat, B., Andrady, A., & Reisser, J. (2017) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/ncomms15611 · Cited by 4,011

The impact of debris on marine life

Gall, S. C., & Thompson, R. C. (2015) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.12.041 · Cited by 2,187

Ingested plastic transfers hazardous chemicals to fish and induces hepatic stress

Rochman, C. M., Hoh, E., Kurobe, T., & Teh, S. J. (2013) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/srep03263 · Cited by 2,169

Microplastics in Seafood and the Implications for Human Health

Smith, M. P., Love, D. C., Rochman, C. M., & Neff, R. (2018) · Current Environmental Health Reports · doi:10.1007/s40572-018-0206-z · Cited by 2,048

The deep sea is a major sink for microplastic debris

Woodall, L. C., Sanchez-Vidal, A., Canals, M., Paterson, G. L. J., Coppock, R., Sleight, V., Calafat, A., Rogers, A. D., Narayanaswamy, B. E., & Thompson, R. C. (2014) · Royal Society Open Science · doi:10.1098/rsos.140317 · Cited by 1,946

Anthropogenic debris in seafood: Plastic debris and fibers from textiles in fish and bivalves sold for human consumption

Rochman, C. M., Tahir, A., Williams, S. L., Baxa, D. V., Lam, R., Miller, J. T., Teh, F., Werorilangi, S., & Teh, S. J. (2015) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/srep14340 · Cited by 1,648

Habitat Integrity and Microplastic Contamination in Amazonian Streams: Assessment of Water, Sediment, and Fish and Identification of Predominant Polymers

Picanço, A. B., Ribeiro-Brasil, D. R. G., Faria, J. L. B., Bento, R. R. F., & Montag, L. F. D. A. (2025) · Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências · doi:10.1590/0001-3765202520250334 · Cited by 1

Detection of micro- and nanoplastics in aqueous environmental samples

Koistinen, A. P., Roussey, M., Peiponen∥, K.-E., Tsering, T., Hrovat, B., & Gebejes, A. (2025) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-29078-7.00007-1

Microplastic transport and ecological impacts on the Yangtze River Estuary: a coupled modeling approachPreprint

Yang, Z., Chen, Y., Yang, H., & Zhang, L. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5934318

Effects of functional traits of fish on their accumulation pattern of microplastics from environment: Evidence from Haizhou Bay

Wang, C., Shen, D., Lei, S., Dou, N., Zhang, C., Xu, B., Ji, Y., Ren, Y., & Xue, Y. (2025) · Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances · doi:10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100827

Real-time monitoring of microplastic accumulation in fish bodies using transparent goldfish revealed initial attack on the gill

Bashar, M. A., Ahamed, S., Mouri, T., Farid, M. A., Hassan, M. M., Uehara, Y., Yamamoto, C., & Tokumoto, T. (2026) · Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods · doi:10.1080/15376516.2026.2648855

A community-informed microplastic exposure index based on Pacific Island fisheries: Integrating local knowledge with empirical data

Ford, A. K., Kitolelei, S., Varea, R., Stockwell, B., Botleng, J. V., Molitaviti, J. B., Alefaio, S., Kaitu, L. P., Nivaga, L., Brown, K., et al. (2026) · Cambridge Prisms Coastal Futures · doi:10.1017/cft.2026.10027

Current and Historic Levels of Persistent (PAHs, PCBs) and Emerging Pollutant (Nano- microplastics or NMPs) Body-Burdens in Oysters and Fish from an Urban-Industrialized Subtropical Estuary (Galveston Bay, TX, USA)Preprint

Mortuza, A., Gahn, B., Wharton, M., Wells, R. J. D., Petersen, L. H., Quigg, A. S., Kaiser, K., & Hala, D. N. (2026) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-9509872/v1

Gut microplastics of two non-native freshwater fish species, Geophagus altifrons and Cichla orinocensis, in Singapore reservoirs

Teo, X. S., Lai, K. S., Kwik, J. T. B., Mowe, M. A. D., & Yeo, D. C. J. (2026) · Aquatic Ecology · doi:10.1007/s10452-026-10312-3

Hetero-aggregation driven microalgal protection against microplastic toxicity and preserving nutritional quality of Paramisgurnus dabryanusPreprint

Yueyang, N., Yajie, Z., Hu, X., Kayani, S., Xu, X., Yu, Z., Srinuanpan, S., Srimongkol, P., & Huo, S. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.6884999

Microplastic transport reshapes estuarine population dynamics in the Yangtze River Estuary: A coupled physical-biological modeling study

Yang, Z., Chen, Y., Yang, H., & Zhang, L. (2026) · Ecological Modelling · doi:10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2026.111686

Current and Historic Levels of Persistent (PAHs, PCBs) and Emerging Pollutant (Nano-and micro-plastics or NMPs) Body-Burdens in Oysters and Fish from an Urban-Industrialized Subtropical Estuary (Galveston Bay, TX, USA)Preprint

Mortuza, A., Gahn, B., Wharton, M., Wells, R. J. D., Petersen, L. H., Quigg, A. S., Kaiser, K., & Hala, D. N. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.6900749

Reconciling marine capture fisheries with the blue economy: Role of satellite-based advisory services

Lal, D. M., Dash, B., Baliarsingh, S. K., Samanta, A., Swetha, N., Joseph, S., Kumar, M. N., & Nair, T. M. B. (2026) · iScience · doi:10.1016/j.isci.2026.116421

Microplastic accumulation in fish and water: a case study from a protected reservoir in a megacity

Yürekli, Ö. D., Sarcan, F., & Saç, G. (2026) · Environmental Monitoring and Assessment · doi:10.1007/s10661-026-15649-8

Current and Historic Levels of Persistent (PAHs, PCBs) and Emerging Pollutant (Nano-microplastics or NMPs) Body-Burdens in Oysters and Fish from an Urban-Industrialized EstuaryPreprint

Mortuza, A., Gahn, B., Wharton, M., Wells, R. J. D., Petersen, L. H., Quigg, A. S., Kaiser, K., & Hala, D. N. (2026) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-10259901/v1

Leaching of Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate from Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics in Synthetic Freshwater, Seawater, and Fish In Vitro Digestion Fluids

Cai, R., Sharma, P., Rhodes, V., Thennakoon, D., Scott, J., Weaver, J. D., Minghetti, M., & González-Estrella, J. (2026) · ACS ES&T Water · doi:10.1021/acsestwater.6c00513

Microplastic exposure, oxidative stress, and potential heme protein vulnerability in teleost fish: implications for oxygen transport and seafood quality

Ather, N., Deh-ae, N., Khan, K., Nabeel, M. I., Qasim, M., Joseph, C. G., & Hussain, F. (2026) · Frontiers in Environmental Science · doi:10.3389/fenvs.2026.1904791

Microplastic ingestion in the benthopelagic tank goby Glossogobius giuris is shaped by environmental exposure and ecomorphological traits

Gosavi, S. M., Verma, C. R., Lexa, M., Petrtýl, M., Kharat, S. S., Kalous, L., & Kumkar, P. (2026) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128838

Microplastic Pollution in Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems: Health Impacts and Remediation Strategies: A Systematic Review

Gomes, D. A., Cusioli, L. F., Nishi, L., Mantovani, D., Paraíso, C. M., Almeida‐Naranjo, C. E., Villamar-Ayala, C. A., & Bergamasco, R. (2026) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su18168251

Cellular Toxicity of Short‐ and Long‐Term Exposures to Polystyrene Nanoplastics and Microplastics in Fish Skin Cell Derived From Fathead Minnow ( Pimephales promelas )

Nguyen, T. T., Park, K., & Kwak, I. (2026) · Journal of Applied Toxicology · doi:10.1002/jat.70368

Microplastics in freshwater environments across the high altitude region of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

Pittura, L., Vita, S., Resente, M., Mongera, F., Khan, A., Nafees, M. A., Din, S. U., Hanif, N., d’Errico, G., Nardi, A., et al. (2026) · Frontiers in Toxicology · doi:10.3389/ftox.2026.1947679

Spatial Heterogeneity and Ecological Risks of Microplastics in Freshwater Aquaculture Ponds Across Poyang Lake Basin

Yao, N., Hu, C., Zhou, Y., Li, J., Zhang, Y., Wang, Q., Liu, Z., & Zhang, M. (2026) · Water · doi:10.3390/w18202600

Outdoor mesocosm experiment provides novel insights into the relative importance of water and food as sources of microplastics to aquatic amphibians

Gene, S. M., Katzenback, B. A., Provencher, J. F., Mallory, M. L., Lougheed, S. C., & Orihel, D. M. (2026) · Ecotoxicology · doi:10.1007/s10646-026-03145-1

Assessment of Microplastic and Element Contamination in Fish Sold by Informal Roadside Vendors in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Tshifura, A. R., Themba, N. N., de Mello, F. T., Munyai, L. F., Dondofema, F., Matam, N. Y., & Dalu, T. (2026) · Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology · doi:10.1007/s00244-026-01223-3

Microplastics Are Prevalent in Striped Bass and Shiner Surfperch Tissues across San Francisco Bay, California

Milne, M. H., Lin, D., Davis, J. A., Miller, E. L., Trinh, M., & Rochman, C. M. (2026) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.6c08811

An assessment of microplastic contamination in freshwater fish from the Upper Doce River basin (Minas Gerais, Brazil): a 2003 baseline study

Cárdenas, V. J., de Magalhães, A. B., dos Santos, V. M. R., & Eskinazi-Sant’Anna, E. M. (2026) · Hydrobiologia · doi:10.1007/s10750-026-06397-4

A global review of hypomelanosis in Chondrichthyes, with the first recorded case of piebaldism in the largest ectotherm: the whale shark Rhincodon typus

Baciero, A. G., Robalino‐Mejía, C., Gaytán-Larrea, A. M., Torres-Marín, K. L., Llobera, M., & Mejía, D. (2026) · Environmental Biology of Fishes · doi:10.1007/s10641-026-01923-8

Occurrence of microplastic in fish: presence, knowledge and solutions

Wootton, N. (2021) · Adelaide Research & Scholarship (AR&S) (University of Adelaide)

Microplastic contamination in fish: Critical review and assessment of data quality

Lin, X., Gowen, A., Pu, H., & Xu, J. (2023) · Food Control · doi:10.1016/j.foodcont.2023.109939 · Cited by 53

Worldwide contamination of fish with microplastics: A brief global overview

Sequeira, I. F., Prata, J. C., da Costa, J. P., Duarte, A. C., & Rocha‐Santos, T. (2020) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111681 · Cited by 164

Not as Bad as It Seems? A Literature Review on the Case of Microplastic Uptake in Fish

Müller, C. (2021) · Frontiers in Marine Science · doi:10.3389/fmars.2021.672768 · Cited by 55

A Meta-Analysis of the Characterisations of Plastic Ingested by Fish Globally

Lim, K. P., Lim, P., Yusoff, S. B., Sun, C., Ding, J., & Loh, K. (2022) · Toxics · doi:10.3390/toxics10040186 · Cited by 78