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Identification and polymeric profiling of microplastics in Schizothorax niger and Cyprinus carpio using FTIR spectroscopy
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Researchers examined two freshwater fish species from Dal and Wular Lake in Kashmir and found six types of plastic particles in their tissues, including polyethylene, polystyrene, and polyester. Dal Lake fish mostly contained polyethylene, while Wular Lake fish had more polyamide and polyester, suggesting different pollution sources, such as packaging, fishing gear, and textiles, around each lake.
Microplastic pollution is a persistent and widespread environmental issue with documented negative impacts on aquatic ecosystems. This study identified the polymeric composition of microplastics found in two freshwater fish species, Schizothorax niger and Cyprinus carpio, collected from Dal and Wular Lake in the Kashmir Himalaya. Fish tissues were digested, and microplastics were isolated and characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. FTIR analysis identified six main polymer types: low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyamide (PA). Polyethylene-based polymers, particularly LDPE and HDPE, were most prevalent in Dal Lake, while PA and PET were more common in Wular Lake. These differences in polymer composition reflect varying anthropogenic activities and pollution sources around the lakes. The identified polymers are mainly linked to packaging, fishing gear, synthetic textiles and household waste. Their presence in fish tissues indicates the potential for trophic transfer of microplastics within aquatic food webs and underscores related ecological and human health risks. This study offers baseline data on polymer-specific microplastic contamination in economically important freshwater fish of the Himalayan region and highlights the need for improved plastic waste management and ongoing monitoring of freshwater ecosystems.
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Researchers compared microplastic contamination in farmed Nile tilapia and two wild-caught native freshwater fish species from Colombia, analysing stomach, gill, and flesh tissues using micro-FTIR spectroscopy. Fragments were the dominant microplastic type across all species and tissues, and contamination was found in farmed as well as wild fish, indicating that both aquaculture and natural water environments contribute to microplastic exposure in freshwater fish.
First incidence of microplastic in commercially important food fishes and waters: A case study in the dal Lake ecosystem of North-Western Himalaya (India)
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Researchers found microplastics for the first time in commercially important fish and water from Dal Lake in India's Himalayas, with water containing about 197 particles per liter and fish harboring up to 22 particles each. Polyethylene was the most common plastic type found, and the presence of microplastics in food fish indicates these particles are moving up the food chain toward human consumers.
Quantification and Characterisation of Microplastics in Fish and Surface Water at Melayu River, Johor
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Researchers quantified and characterized microplastics in fish gastrointestinal tracts and surface water from Melayu River, Johor, using density separation and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. They found microplastics in all three fish species sampled, with fibers dominant in fish and films dominant in water, and identified PET and polyethylene as the primary polymer types.
Identification and Characterization of Micro and Mesoplastics Isolated from Commercially Important Marine Fishes of Pulicat Lake, Tamil Nadu, India
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This study identified micro- and mesoplastics in the digestive tracts of 15 commercially important fish species from an Indian coastal lake, using infrared spectroscopy to confirm plastic polymer types. The presence of plastics in food fish raises concerns about human dietary exposure through seafood consumption.
Microplastic pollution in Kolavai Lake, Tamil Nadu, India: Quantification of plankton-sized microplastics in the surface water of lake
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Researchers surveyed Kolavai Lake in Tamil Nadu, India, and found microplastics at an average of 6.1 particles per liter across the lake's surface water, with higher concentrations near urban and southern zones. The study used FTIR spectroscopy to confirm the chemical identity of particles and examined how microplastic abundance compares to zooplankton density, finding that microplastics were present at levels that could disrupt plankton feeding. These results highlight how even inland freshwater lakes in India are heavily contaminated, with implications for aquatic food chains and the communities that depend on this water.
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