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Microplastic Contamination in Aquatic Biota: a Comparative Study of Fish Species from the Ganga and Gomti Rivers
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Scientists found tiny plastic fibers, mostly from packaging, clothing, and household items, in the gills and guts of fish from India's Ganga and Gomti rivers, with some fish species absorbing more than others. Since these fish are commonly eaten, this suggests people may be unknowingly consuming microplastics through their diet, and the study found some of these plastics carry metals and pose real risks to aquatic life, highlighting the need for better plastic waste management to protect both ecosystems and the food supply.
Microplastic pollution is increasingly recognized as a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems. Understanding origin and distribution of microplastics in freshwater systems is essential for effective ecosystem management. This study investigated the concentration of different microplastics in river systems by analyzing five fish species collected from the Gomti River in Lucknow and the Ganga River in Kanpur, compares gut versus gill burden to decipher the main exposure pathway. Among these species, Mystus tengara was found in both rivers. To determine microplastics concentration in gills and gut samples were digested for analysis. The physical parameters, shapes, and colors of the microplastics showed a dominance of fibers and the color blue, respectively. Mystus tengara and Eutropiichthys vacha were the two fish species that exhibited higher rates of microplastic consumption. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed that the plastic fragments matched commonly used materials such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), likely linked to human activities like packaging, clothing, and household goods. Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS) was utilized to observe the surface textures of the microplastics, which included flakes, fractures, grooves, and pits. EDS analysis also highlighted the presence of various metals on the surface of microplastics. The hazard index associated with the characterized polymers—PE, PP, PET, polystyrene (PS), and PVC—indicates a range of potential threats to aquatic life, from minor to extreme danger. This study underscores the urgent need to address microplastic pollution through improved waste management, stricter regulations on plastic disposal, and enhanced public education.
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Characterization of microplastics in commercially valued Gangetic fishes and its exposure assessment on humans
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Researchers characterized microplastics in commercially sold fish from the Ganges River in India, finding plastic contamination across multiple species and providing an initial exposure assessment for human consumers who rely on freshwater fish as a primary protein source.
Microplastics in Indian Freshwater Systems: Current Status and Future Research Needs
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This review pulls together existing research showing that major Indian rivers and lakes—including the Ganga and Brahmaputra—are contaminated with tiny plastic particles called microplastics, mostly tiny fibers and fragments from things like laundry, packaging waste, and industrial runoff. Since people in these regions eat freshwater fish and drink water from these sources, this contamination is a potential pathway for human exposure, and these plastic particles can also carry harmful chemicals and bacteria along with them. The researchers stress that better monitoring and pollution-reduction efforts are urgently needed, though more studies are still required to f
Abundance, characteristics, and risk assessment of microplastics in indigenous freshwater fishes of India
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Researchers examined microplastic contamination in five widely consumed freshwater fish species from India and found plastic particles in all specimens, with fibers being the most dominant type. Evidence of microplastics in edible fish tissue indicates translocation from the gut, suggesting a pathway for human exposure through consumption. Risk assessment showed that while microplastic abundance posed a low quantitative risk, the polymer types identified indicated a high hazard potential for the fish species studied.
Assessment and accumulation of microplastics in the Indian riverine systems: Risk assessment and implications of translocation across the water-to-fish continuum
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This review assessed microplastic pollution across Indian rivers and the fish that live in them, finding widespread contamination in both water and fish tissues. Microplastics were found to transfer from river water into fish organs including gills, gut, liver, and muscle tissue that people eat. Since Indian rivers support the livelihoods and food supply of hundreds of millions of people, this contamination pathway is a significant concern for human dietary exposure to microplastics.
Occurrence of plastics and their characterization in wild caught fish species (Labeo rohita, Wallago attu and Mystus tengara) of River Ganga (India) compared to a commercially cultured species (L. rohita)
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Researchers analyzed nine wild-caught fish species from two sites along the River Ganga in Patna, India, detecting plastics in gastrointestinal tracts, liver, gills, and muscles, providing rare data on plastic contamination in one of the world's most polluted rivers.
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