WITHDRAWN: Microplastic accumulation in aquatic insects of different feeding guilds collected from wastewater in Sohag Governorate, Egypt

Abstract Microplastics (MPs) have been detected in many freshwater organisms because of increasing plastic contamination within the freshwater environment. However, the correlation between MPs in organisms and their surrounding environment still needs studies. This study investigates MP contamination in one of the wastewater ponds east of Sohag Governorate, Egypt. Four common freshwater insect families representing different feeding guilds were employed to detect MPs contamination. The collector-gatherer (Chironomidae, Chironomus sp.) recorded the highest MP load per gram wet weight. However, predators (Aeshnidae, Aeshna sp.) recorded the lowest one. A reverse trend was observed based on MP load per individual. Polyester fibers were the most common type of MPs followed by fragments (Polyethylene and polypropylene) in both sediment and water. However, only polyester fibers were found in the different insect taxa. The blue color was the predominant color in the water, sediment, and insect fauna. The mean length of fibers in the different insects was a little smaller than those in the surrounding environment. The presence of MPs in some examined insects (lower trophic levels) gives a possibility of transferring to higher levels following predation. Therefore, further studies should be carried out along different feeding groups of higher levels to detect the potential risk of MPs on different freshwater fauna.