Microplastics as an emerging threat to the fresh water fishes: A review. (original) (raw)
Related papers
MICROPLASTICS IN FRESHWATER SYSTEMS: A REVIEW ON ITS ACCUMULATION AND EFFECTS ON FISHES
Plastic production is escalating tremendously throughout the globe and the reason behind this is its durability and multipurpose utility. But there is a severe scarcity of its management. Tonnes of plastics are dumped into water bodies across the world. These plastics breakdown because of different reasons and results in the plastic debris of size <5mm termed as microplastics (MPs) which are hazardous to aquatic life. They are a potential source of toxins as they offer a large surface area to various chemicals present in the water body when these MPs are ingested by fishes it causes serious health issues leading to mortality of the fishes. Therefore, we comprehensively reviewed the sources of MPs in freshwater systems and its various types and how they get accumulated inside the body of fishes. We found that fishes ingest these particles by mistaken for food or accumulated these particles by consuming from lower trophic organisms. Some of the commonly studied MPs are PE, PS, and PVC, examined from the body of fishes. MPs can cause various ecotoxicological effects on fishes like behavioural change, cytotoxicity, neurotoxicity effects, and liver stress etc. Our review study finds that there is a paucity of information on the accumulation of MPs by freshwater fishes and there are very few studies on its effects also there is a debate whether this accumulation is subjected to the bio-magnification process which ultimately affects human life.
Microplastics in Aquatic Environments and Their Toxicological Implications for Fish
Toxicology - New Aspects to This Scientific Conundrum, 2016
The intensive use of plastics and derivatives during the last century has increased the contamination of animal habitats. The breakdown of these primary plastics in the environment results in microplastics (MP), small fragments of plastic typically <1-5 mm in size. Apart from the potential negative effects of the MPs per se, it is generally assumed that microplastics may increase the exposure of marine aquatic organisms to chemicals associated with the plastics. In addition, to enhance the performance of plastics, additives are added during manufacture. Furthermore, they are active in absorbing other contaminants and be used as vectors of highly and well-documented persistent contaminants. Finally, these small MPs are easily ingested by animals and affect their physiology and behaviour. Thus, aquatic living organisms are continuously exposed to these MPs, and associated contaminants, and could suffer from its contamination but also introduce them into the food chain.
Microplastics in freshwater fishes: Occurrence, impacts and future perspectives
Fish and Fisheries, 2021
Microplastics (MPs) are small, plastic particles of various shapes, sizes and polymers. Although well studied in marine systems, their roles and importance in freshwater environments remain uncertain. Nevertheless, the restricted ranges and variable traits of freshwater fishes result in their communities being important receptors and strong bioindicators of MP pollution. Here, the current knowledge on MPs in freshwater fishes is synthesized, along with the development of recommendations for future research and sample processing. MPs are commonly ingested and passively taken up by numerous freshwater fishes, with ingestion patterns often related to individual traits (e.g. body size, trophic level) and environmental factors (e.g. local urbanization, habitat features). Controlled MP exposure studies highlight various effects on fish physiology, biochemistry and behaviour that are often complex, unpredictable, species-specific and nonlinear in respect of dose-response relationships. Egestion is typically rapid and effective, although particles of a particular shape and/ or size may remain, or translocate across the intestinal wall to other organs via the blood. Regarding future studies, there is a need to understand the interactions of MP pollution with other anthropogenic stressors (e.g. warming, eutrophication), with a concomitant requirement to increase the complexity of studies to enable impact assessment at population, community and ecosystem levels, and to determine whether there are consequences for processes, such as parasite transmission, where MPs could vector parasites or increase infection susceptibility. This knowledge will determine the extent to which MP pollution can be considered a major anthropogenic stressor of freshwaters in this era of global environmental change.
Overview of Microplastics Threat in Aquatic Animals Since 1960 to 2020
Microplastic threat
Plastic pollution is growing global environmental issue of today as well tomorrow, which has harmful effects on all biota including human beings. Here, we review the literature about MPs with some important objectives: (1) we discuss the general introduction of MPs as well different definitions proposed by different studies, their types and nomenclature; (2) sources and their environmental fate of microplastics;(3) we present a short overview of reported studies of MPs uptake by organism since 1960 to present 2020 with special focus on MPs concentration in fishes reported in last five years; (4) then we discuss biotoxicity of MPs reported across the globe ;(5) and finally we also discuss the harmful effects of MPs on human health.
Journal of Applied Biology & Biotechnology
The world is ever evolving and new technologies are popping up everywhere. New inventions and discoveries have created a better world, but not a sustainable one. The whole earth is drowning in various pollutants and garbage. Plastic pollution has garnered sufficient attention and there are various teams and organizations working toward cleaning our beaches, parks, and environment. However, all these actions will not suffice as plastics have trickled down into microplastics, which are posing a greater threat to our water systems and aquatic fauna. Several ongoing researches focus on marine microplastics, while only 13% of studies are on freshwater. Research on microplastics is now on the rise, with new strategies and restrictions being put into place to curb its accumulation in our marine and freshwater environments. In a recent study, microplastics were found to be present in human blood with. Out of 22 people tested, 17 test subjects had microplastics present in their blood. This review focuses on the adverse effects of microplastics in marine and freshwater ecosystems, with special focus on aquatic fauna.
MICROPLASTICS: POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY
Tropical Freshwater Biology , 2022
Microplastic pollution has been considered an issue of considerable concern for society and aquatic ecosystems due to plastics' unlimited applications and admirable properties. This review paper investigated various groups and sources of microplastics, their potential impacts on aquatic biodiversity, and the mitigation and treatment measures. Microplastics were grouped according to their sources as primary and secondary microplastics. Primary microplastics are generated more from land-based activities (98%) than sea-based activities (2%). Sources of primary microplastics are personal care products, industrial scrubbers, plastic powders, and microbeads, among others. While sources of secondary microplastics are losses of plastic materials during natural disasters, material lost or discarded from fishing vessels and aquaculture facilities, and oil and gas platforms, among others. Microplastics cause toxic effects, reduced food intake, delayed growth, oxidative damage, abnormal behaviour, a barrier to lipid metabolism, and affect fishes at molecular levels, causing genetic damage whereby microplastics absorb polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which cause immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity and genotoxicity to marine species. Mitigation measures to reduce the microplastic pollution's effects include the removal of microbeads from personal care products, improved reuse, recycling and recovery of plastics, improved separation efficiency at wastewater treatment points and development of clean-up and bioremediation and phytoremediation techniques. Treatment methods include microfiltration, ultra-filtration, nanofiltration and reverse osmosis. Microplastics have varying effects on aquatic organisms, but these impacts can be mitigated and treated with different techniques and policy instruments. Therefore, the study recommends avoiding disposing of, reusing, recycling and recovering plastic substances in the aquatic environment for safe and clean waters.
Microplastics in fish an emerging concernfor human healthand nutrition compressed
Food and Scientific report, 2021
Plastic production and its usage are increased exponentially and will continue to do so due to its durability and utility. Thousand tons of plastics are disposed prejudicially into the water bodies across the world every year due to lack of inadequate disposal and management system. In aquatic ecosystems, micro plastic pollution poses multiple serious threats to biodiversity. Micro plastic contamination is of emerging concern as these are hazardous to aquatic life, since they are the potential source of toxins and have direct impact on fish physiology. Micro plastic contamination of fish is also likely to pose serious threat to human life upon ingestion.
Impact of Microplastics and Their Prevention in Aquatic Ecosystem
Biotica Research Today, 2023
In addition to soil, rivers, lakes, and the ocean, microplastics can also be found in the air. Microplastics can be consumed by animals and result in physical harm as well as the release of hazardous compounds into the environment; they are bad for the ecosystem and wildlife. Microplastics can significantly affect the aquatic environment and the organs such as the digestive system, physical injury to the stomach and intestines that results in inflammation and associated issues of fish. To safeguard the well-being of aquatic ecosystems and the organisms that depend on them, it is imperative to minimize the use of plastic and create methods for eliminating microplastics from the environment. A multifaceted strategy that includes reducing the quantity of plastic waste that enters waterways, putting in place efficient wastewater treatment systems, and informing the public about the effects of microplastics on the environment will be needed to prevent and control the presence of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems.
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 2019
The prevalence of microplastics in global waters raises the concern about their potential effects on aquatic biota. In aquatic environment, microplastics are almost ubiquitously present in all compartments from surface water to benthic sediment, making them accessible to a wide range of aquatic biota occupying different habitats. Exposure to microplastics may induce detrimental implications to the health of aquatic organisms. This review describes the wide occurrence of microplastics ingestion by aquatic fauna and evaluates the ecotoxicological effects of microplastics as well as the associated chemicals on aquatic biota including phytoplankton and fauna from both freshwater and marine environments. Trophic transfer of microplastics and associated contaminants along the aquatic food chain and potential impacts on human health are also discussed. Finally, this review emphasizes the current knowledge gaps and gives recommendations for the future work.
Characteristics of Microplastic in Commercial Aquatic Organisms
Tropical Aquatic and Soil Pollution
This study aims to review the occurrence of microplastics in some commercial aquatic organisms. Microplastics are small plastic particles with a diameter of less than 5 mm. Effluent, stormwater, agricultural, and surface runoff introduce microplastic to freshwater basins. Hydrodynamics and hydrology encompass microplastics. River flow speed can cause turbulence and riverbed instability, increasing microplastic concentrations. Fish, shellfish, and crustaceans ingest microplastics in proportion to their quantity in freshwater and marine environments. Human activities cause variations in the form, color, and size of microplastics in the biota. Animals absorb microplastics through trophic transfer. Increased microplastic residence time before ingestion promotes trophic transmission. Lower food concentration and aggregation enhance microplastic retention in zooplankton guts, increasing transmission to higher-trophic-level species. Most studies show that microplastics in biota are discove...