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The First Report of Microplastics in Freshwater Benthopelagic Fish Species Barbus cyri De Filippi, 1865 (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) (Igdir, Türkiye)
Original title: The First Report of Microplastics in Freshwater Benthopelagic Fish Species Barbus Cyri De Filippi, 1865 (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) (Igdir, Türkiye)
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Scientists found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in the gut and gills of a freshwater fish species from a stream in Turkey, marking the first time this has been documented for this fish. Most of the plastic bits were small black fragments, likely from broken-down plastic waste in the water—and since this fish is part of the food chain, these findings raise concerns about how microplastics might work their way up to the fish (and foods) people eat. More research is needed to understand what this means for human health, but it's a reminder that plastic pollution in rivers and streams doesn't just disappear—it ends up somewhere.
In the present study, microplastic (MP) ingestion by Barbus cyri fish species found in the Acıçay Stream was investigated. In this context, Microplastics (171 MPs: 59.6 % gastrointestinal tract, and 40.4 % gills) were detected in this fish species’ different tissues. The average abundance of MP was found to be 11.33 ± 3.71 MP items/individual in the gastrointestinal tract tissue and 7.67 ± 2.96 MP items/individual in the gills. The most dominant shape of detected microplastics in fish tissues is fragment (59.8%) and most dominant color is black (58.8 %). Additionally, the dominant sizes of MPs in fish samples were determined as 200-500 µm in intestinal tissue and 50-200 µm in gill tissues. The dominant polymer was ethylene propylene (48.6 %). The results of this study provide supply fundamental data for the management of MPs in fish species in freshwater systems and for taking the necessary precautions.
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