A Systematic Review of Microplastic Contamination in Commercially Important Bony Fish and Its Implications for Health

Abstract

The increasing production of plastic products has raised concerns about environmental impacts related to microplastic formation, which harms ecosystems and human health. This systematic review aims to present the concentration of microplastics in commercially important bony fish and discuss the impacts on animal health and the possibility of these contaminants reaching the end consumer. The PICO methodology was used, and 517 articles were retrieved from four databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus); after selecting articles that complement the research objective, 70 articles were used to compose this review. According to the results, line-shaped microplastics, polypropylene, and polystyrene polymers were the most frequently identified in the articles. Additionally, the effects of microplastics on animal health, including false satiety and physical injuries, as well as risks to human health, such as epithelial inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell contamination, were discussed. Understanding the concentration of microplastics in commercially important bony fish is necessary for protecting human health and maintaining the health of marine ecosystems. It is necessary to adopt legislative measures for proper plastic disposal.