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Integrated quantitative and qualitative analysis of microplastics in fish from the Danube River in Belgrade (Serbia)
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Scientists checked fish from a heavily polluted stretch of the Danube River in Belgrade and found tiny plastic particles—mostly fibers, likely from clothing and textiles—in every single fish they tested. Since these fish are commonly eaten by people, this suggests we may be swallowing similar plastic fibers whenever we eat fish from polluted urban waterways, though more research is needed to understand what this means for our health.
Microplastics (MPs) are an emerging environmental concern due to their persistence, ability to act as carriers of contaminants and microorganisms, and potential impacts on aquatic ecosystems and human health. This study presents the first comprehensive assessment of MPs in common bream (Abramis brama; Linnaeus, 1758) from the Danube River that integrates both visual characterization and qualitative polymer identification using μFTIR. The presence, abundance, morphology, size, color, and polymer composition of MPs were investigated in the gastrointestinal tract of common bream collected from the Danube River in Belgrade, a river section exposed to pronounced anthropogenic pressure. Particles were detected in all analyzed specimens. In total, 88 particles were extracted from 15 fish, corresponding to a mean abundance of 5.87 ± 3.29 particles per individual (range: 2-15). Particle lengths ranged from 39 to 10,223 μm, with an average length of 1146 ± 1499 μm. Morphological analysis revealed a strong dominance of fibers (97.70%), while only two fragments were recorded. Most fibers were smaller than 2000 μm and were predominantly blue, brown, and grey in color. Chemical characterization was performed on 37 particles (∼42% of the total) using μFTIR. Cellulosic fibers represented 40.50% of identified particles, followed by polyester (27.00%) and acrylic (10.80%), while nylon, polyvinyl chloride and polypropylene were detected less frequently. These results indicate that urban river sections are important MPs hotspots, with common bream representing a species that can effectively reflect contamination in these areas. Future studies should extend spatial coverage along the Danube River and apply harmonized methodologies to improve comparability of results and strengthen assessments of MPs distribution across different riverine conditions, alongside integration of data from other biotic and abiotic compartments for a more comprehensive evaluation of riverine pollution.
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Microplastics in the Danube River and Its Main Tributaries—Ingestion by Freshwater Macroinvertebrates
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Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in the Danube River and its major tributaries and analyzed ingestion by freshwater fish species collected from multiple sites. Microplastics were detected in a significant proportion of fish, with ingestion rates correlating with local plastic contamination levels, documenting widespread plastic exposure across the Danube watershed's fish communities.
Microplastic Ingestion by Wild Fish Across an Urbanization Gradient in a Megacity River: A Case Study of the Suzhou River, Shanghai
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Scientists found tiny plastic bits in the guts of over 70% of fish tested from Shanghai's Suzhou River, with fish from more urban, city-center areas carrying noticeably more plastic than those from quieter suburban stretches. Most of these particles were small, clear plastic fibers — the kind that could come from synthetic clothing or urban runoff — and since these are fish that people may eventually eat, the findings raise questions about how much plastic pollution moves from city waterways into the food we consume.
Occurrence and characterization of microplastic content in the digestive system of riverine fishes
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Researchers found microplastics in 93.8% of riverine fish examined, with polystyrene, polyethylene, and nylon being the most common polymer types concentrated near urban and industrial areas, and small particles (0.025-1 mm) predominating across species.
Baseline assessment of suspended microplastics: Spatial distribution, polymer composition, and ecological risk in two Central Portuguese rivers
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Scientists found tiny plastic bits called microplastics in every water sample they tested from two major rivers in Portugal, mostly in the form of super-small fibers from things like plastic packaging and textiles. These plastics were small enough (less than 1mm) to pose meaningful risks to river ecosystems, and since these same rivers can be sources of drinking water and support fish we eat, this adds to growing evidence that microplastics are working their way into the water and food we consume daily.
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Researchers examined microplastic contamination in the guts and gills of pontic shad (Alosa immaculata) caught from the lower Danube River, finding an average of 1.35 microplastic particles per fish in the digestive tract and 0.5 particles per fish in the gills. The dominant plastics were polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyester — common packaging and textile materials — confirming that river fish in Eastern Europe are routinely ingesting plastic debris.
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