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Wild trout as potential biomonitoring tool of microplastic pollution in mountain freshwater systems: an interspecific comparative study conducted in an Andean Reservoir
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Researchers examined microplastics in the stomachs/intestines and gills of brown and rainbow trout from an Andean reservoir in Argentina. Only plastic fibers were found, in similar amounts across both species and organs, including materials like polyester and nylon likely from textiles, establishing baseline data for monitoring mountain freshwater pollution.
Plastic pollution is an emerging threat to mountain environments worldwide. Similar to other contaminants, microplastics (MPs) can reach high-altitude freshwater ecosystems via atmospheric, regional, and local transport pathways. However, data on MPs contamination in biota from high mountain regions remain scarce. This study presents a comparative assessment of MP pollution in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and gills of brown and rainbow trout, aiming to evaluate their presence, abundance, types, and potential sources in a reservoir located in the Central Andes, Argentina. MPs were extracted from GIT and gill tissues using 10% KOH digestion at 45°C for 72 h, then classified by size, type, and color, and identified via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflectance (ATR-FTIR). Only fibers were detected in both organs across both species. Mean fiber abundance was 2.37 ± 0.28 and 1.66 ± 0.30 in the GIT and 2.28 ± 0.35 and 2.14 ± 0.40 in the gills of brown and rainbow trout, respectively. No significant differences were found between species and organs, and no correlation with fish size was observed. Polymer analysis identified ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), nitrile (Nit), and nylon (Ny), with the predominance of fibers being consistent with a potential contribution from textile-derived materials, although specific sources could not be determined. This study establishes baseline data on MPs pollution in wild trout species, important fisheries resources with high tourist value and emphasizes the urgent need for ongoing monitoring of Andean ecosystems to mitigate the impacts of plastic pollution on mountain systems.
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Researchers found microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of all three fish species examined from Argentina's Mendoza River in the Central Andes, with fibers comprising 85% of particles, marking the first evidence of microplastic pollution in this high-altitude freshwater system.
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Researchers detected microplastics in both the surface water and gastrointestinal tracts of brown trout (Salmo trutta) from a high-altitude lake in Pakistan, demonstrating that microplastic contamination has reached remote mountain ecosystems far from urban pollution sources.
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Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in two remote high-altitude lakes in the Italian Alps, finding plastic particles in lake sediments, tadpoles, and fish (but not in open water or zooplankton), with younger fish accumulating more microplastics than older ones — suggesting fish as useful pollution indicators even in pristine mountain environments.
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Scientists found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in the guts of fish from Lake Titicaca, a major food source for local communities—and farmed rainbow trout had way more plastic in them (up to 135 pieces!) than the wild native fish (black carachi). This matters because when we eat fish, we may also be eating the microplastics still in their digestive systems, especially if farmed fish are exposed to more plastic pollution than wild ones—though more research is needed to know exactly how this affects human health.
Microplastics in brown trout (Salmo trutta Linnaeus, 1758) from an Irish riverine system
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Microplastic prevalence and characteristics were assessed in brown trout (Salmo trutta) from an Irish riverine system to investigate plastic ingestion in a freshwater salmonid. The study found microplastics in a proportion of sampled fish, adding to the limited literature on microplastic ingestion in freshwater salmonids and highlighting rivers as an exposure pathway for these commercially important fish.
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