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Microplastic contamination in two commercially important fish species from a coastal river: Dietary exposure to potential health implications
Summary
Researchers found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in two popular fish species from a river, with the highest amounts in the gills but also measurable levels in the muscle meat people actually eat. This means eating these fish could expose you to an estimated 8-19 plastic particles per day, though scientists still need more research to know exactly how this affects human health long-term.
Microplastic (MP) contamination is a persistent environmental hazard with potential transfer to humans through fish consumption. This study evaluated tissue-specific MP contamination, ecological and human health exposure risks in two commercially important fish species, Platycephalus indicus and Xenentodon cancila , from the Rupsa River using stereo-microscopy, FTIR and integrated ecological risk indices. Both species exhibited high MP burdens, with higher overall loads in X. cancila . Gills showed the highest accumulation (33.77 ± 20.34 items/g), while lower but considerable levels in edible muscle (2.34 ± 0.93 items/g in P. indicus ; 2.26 ± 0.99 items/g in X. cancila ) confirm primary environmental exposure and potential dietary exposure. Fibre-type MPs and smaller particles (<0.5 mm) were dominant, indicating high bioavailability potential, with PE and PET contributing most to overall ecological risk. Risk assessment based on PLI and CF indicated moderate contamination and accumulation trends, while PHI, PERI, and MPERI collectively indicated measurable ecological risk driven primarily by polymer hazard and exposure characteristics, with slightly higher overall risk in X. cancila . Estimated fish dietary exposure ranged from 8.14 to 19.19 items/person/day, suggesting quantifiable exposure pathways and potential health effects that require toxicological and epidemiological investigation to preserve ecosystems and seafood safety.