How long-term ingestion of microplastic harms growth and reproduction in fish

A new French-Swedish study highlights the harmful consequences of microplastic ingestion on the growth and reproduction of two different fish species. Photo: AFP

A French-Swedish study conducted by several research institutes evaluated the toxicity of plastic pollution in two types of fish living in the sea and in fresh water.

The researchers found that chronic ingestion of plastic particles could affect the growth and reproduction of the two fish species studied.

The world's fish are increasingly threatened by microplastics that pollute seas, lakes and oceans. Published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, this new research was conducted by scientists from France's INRAE, IFREMER, and the universities of Bordeaux (France) and Orebro (Sweden).