We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Ecotoxicological and health risk assessing of heavy metals and microplastics in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) of Burullus Lake, Egypt
AI summary Read the abstract
Catfish from Egypt's Burullus Lake were found to contain unsafe levels of heavy metals (like manganese and cadmium) and microplastic particles, which had already caused visible damage to the fish's liver and gut. For people who eat this fish regularly, the researchers calculated that cancer risk from metals like cadmium, lead, and nickel exceeded safety limits, suggesting this is a fish population worth avoiding or eating only in moderation until water pollution is addressed.
One of the most serious pollution problems in aquatic lake systems is contamination by heavy metals (HMs) and microplastics (MPs). These pollutants cause serious harm to aquatic organisms. The research focused on studying HMs (Mn, Cd, Pb, Ni, and Cr) and MPs in organs of Clarias gariepinus inhabitant of Burullus Lake. Water and live fish samples were collected from the northwestern part of the lake, preserved and then transferred for laboratory analyses. HMs were analyzed using digestion methods with nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide. For MPs, 10% potassium hydroxide was used. The metal ions followed these orders Mn > Cr > Cd > Ni > Pb and Mn > Cr > Cd > Pb > Ni in the liver and muscle, respectively. In water, this order was Mn > Cr > Pb > Ni > Cd. The highest bioconcentration factor (BCF) was for Mn in both tissues; the lowest was Pb in the liver and Cd in the muscle. The metal concentrations exceeded the limits reported by FAO/WHO. The estimated daily and weekly intakes (EDI and EWI) were higher than 1 in both adults and children. The hazard index (HI) was within the limit of 1. The values were higher for Cd, Pb, and Ni than the tolerable value of lifetime carcinogenic risk according to USEPA of (10). The most abundant microplastics (MPs) were transparent lines, followed by colored fibers and then colored fragments. The polymeric composition of microplastics was 333 T Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE]) in the intestine and 118 T (low-density polyethylene [LDPE]) in the muscle. The pollution load index for MPs was more than 1 in both tissues. The histopathological changes indicated a loss of detoxification ability and intestinal integrity, as manifested by hepatocellular necrosis and vacuolar degeneration. Intestinal lesions exhibited villous sloughing along with necrobiotic alterations and iron deposition. It is concluded that high contamination ratios of MPs were observed in the tested samples and these ratios may increase within time if water and sediments are not treated effectively.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics and Heavy Metals Contamination in Clarias gariepinus from Eleyele Reservoir, Nigeria, During Rainy Season: A Public Health Concern
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found tiny plastic bits and heavy metals like lead, chromium, and nickel in catfish from a Nigerian reservoir, with contamination showing up in the gills, liver, and muscle (the part people actually eat). While eating the muscle alone didn't show immediate danger, the levels of lead and chromium raised long-term cancer risk concerns, suggesting that regularly eating fish from polluted waters like this could pose real health risks over time.
Microplastics and Heavy Metals Contamination in Clarias gariepinus from Eleyele Reservoir, Nigeria, During Rainy Season: A Public Health Concern
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found tiny plastic particles and heavy metals like lead, chromium, and nickel in catfish from a Nigerian reservoir, contaminants that showed up in the gills, liver, and even the muscle tissue that people actually eat. While the fish's flesh itself seemed safe from immediate harm, lead and chromium levels raised concerns about long-term cancer risk for people who eat this fish regularly, highlighting how pollution in waterways can quietly work its way up the food chain and onto our plates.
Assessment of Microplastic Contaminations in African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) From Selected Fish Farms in Awka Metropolis, Anambra State, Nigeria
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found tiny plastic particles in the gills, intestines, and muscle of farmed catfish in Nigeria, with contamination levels linked to water quality at each farm. Since the muscle is the part people actually eat, this means fish consumers could unknowingly be ingesting microplastics too, highlighting the need for cleaner water sources and better fish farm management.
Toxicity of co-exposure of microplastics and lead in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed African catfish to lead, microplastics, and a combination of both for 15 days and found that the combined exposure was more harmful than either pollutant alone. The mixture caused the greatest damage to blood cells, triggered stronger inflammatory responses, and disrupted the fish's antioxidant defenses. Since microplastics can carry heavy metals like lead on their surfaces, this study shows how microplastics may amplify the toxic effects of other pollutants in freshwater fish that people eat.
Human health and ecological risks associated with microplastic contamination in widely consumed catfish from a large-scale estuary
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers quantified microplastic contamination in two commercially important catfish species from the Meghna Estuary in Bangladesh, analyzing gills, digestive tracts, and muscle tissue. The study found tissue-specific patterns of microplastic accumulation and assessed both ecological and human health risks, highlighting concerns about dietary exposure through fish consumption in regions where fish is a primary protein source.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.