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Occurrence Of Microplastics in Immature Aquatic Insects of Gua Musang Tributaries in Kelantan
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Researchers investigated the presence and abundance of microplastics in freshwater immature aquatic insects, specifically caddisfly (Trichoptera) and dragonfly (Odonata) larvae, collected from two tributaries of Gua Musang in Kelantan, Malaysia. The study found that microplastics had accumulated in these larvae, raising concerns about microplastic transfer through aquatic food chains in the region.
Microplastics (MPs) are known for being one of the environmental pollution sources. Nevertheless, the study of accumulation of MPs in living entity particularly in immature insect larvae that serve as food resource in aquatic food chain, is still scarce. This study aimed to determine the presence of microplastics in the freshwater immature aquatic insects comprising of caddisfly (Trichoptera) and dragonfly (Odonata) larvae sampled from two tributaries of Gua Musang namely Sungai Chegeh and Sungai Galas. The collected samples were analysed by using FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) spectroscopy and referred to the Spectral Libraries of OMNIC Specta software. Two types of MPs were found within the immature aquatic insect, namely cellophane and chipboard. The MPs particles existed in the form of which were mostly ingested by immature aquatic insects may pose a threat to an aquatic food chain within both Sungai Galas and Sungai Chegeh of Gua Musang, Kelantan. The occurrence of microplastics recorded in these rivers as well as in the immature aquatic insects could be a reflection of microplastic pollution in the respective Gua Musang tributaries in Kelantan.
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