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Tracing the invisible microplastics in river water and fish organs and its implication of riverine ecosystem integrity
Summary
Researchers analyzed microplastics in river water and fish organ tissues from a river in South Asia, finding contamination throughout the aquatic food web. The study used the plastisphere framework to discuss how microbial communities colonizing microplastics may influence particle fate and biological effects.
P̈lastisphered̈escribes a fascinating anthropogenic ecosystem made of plastic that has spread like a wildfire across the world as a result of extensive production and utilization of the plastics. Plastic as well as microplastics pollution is omnipresent, and a global concern as only a fraction of plastic produced gets recycled, rest gets dispersed and accumulated in the environment. Rivers play a vital role in ecosystems by serving as homes for a wide variety of plants and animals. They provide a significant amount of water for drinking, agriculture, and industrial usage, among other uses by humans. These ecosystems are seriously threatened, nevertheless, by the introduction of plastic and microplastics into rivers. Freshwater resources, particularly rivers, have garnered interest due to recent research highlighting their significance as important routes for the dispersal of microplastics. Our research findings document the microplastics present at various sites [Haryana, Delhi] of river Yamuna, India. In the present investigation water samples 1liter (surface and below 50cm) were collected from 8 different locations of Yamuna River and were brought to the laboratory for the further studies. Highest number of microplastics were 433mps/ltr from the water along the surface of Sonia Vihar, Delhi. We also found the highest number of microplastics i.e., 395mps/ltr in the water sampled from (depth of 50cm) Kalindi Kunj Barrage, Delhi. We have also done preliminary studies on the presence of microplastics in different organs of fish species (Oreochromis niloticus, Salmostoma phulo, Labeo rohita) and found fibers, fragments microplastics in almost all the organs assessed. Polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene (PE) microplastics were dominant among the microplastics found and polymers were confirmed using FTIR spectroscopy. Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/547951/document