We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastic contamination in aquatic insects from Algerian freshwater ecosystems: a first multi-bioclimatic assessment
Summary
Scientists found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) inside 72% of aquatic insects sampled from Algerian rivers and streams—the first such study in North Africa. Since these insects are eaten by fish and other animals that eventually end up on our plates, this suggests microplastics could be moving up the food chain toward humans, though this study didn't directly test human health effects. The findings also show that these insects could be useful "canaries in the coal mine" for tracking plastic pollution in freshwater systems worldwide.
Microplastic pollution is an issue arising in freshwater ecosystems worldwide, yet data from North Africa remains scarce. In this study, aquatic insects were collected from 17 freshwater sites distributed across three bioclimatic regions in Algeria between 2024 and 2025. A total of 25 species belonging to 12 families and 5 orders were analyzed to assess the occurrence and polymer composition of microplastics (MPs). MPs were detected in 72% of the analyzed specimens, with a total of 105 particles identified. Particle sizes ranged from 5.8 to 124 µm, with fibers representing the dominant morphological shape. FTIR analysis recognized polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) as the predominant polymers, suggesting multiple anthropogenic contamination sources. Generalized linear model (GLM) analyses revealed significant associations between MP occurrence and functional feeding groups, particularly collector-filterers (p < 0.001) and members of the family Hydropsychidae (p < 0.01). These findings provide the first baseline data on microplastic contamination in freshwater macroinvertebrates from Algeria and highlight the potential usefulness of aquatic insects for monitoring freshwater MP contamination.