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The first observation of the presence of microplastics in wild common bleak (Alburnus alburnus L.) and standardization of extraction protocols
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Researchers studied microplastic contamination in the digestive tracts, muscle tissue, and whole bodies of common bleak fish from a Serbian reservoir, comparing different extraction protocols. The study provides first evidence of microplastics in this species while also developing cost-effective extraction methods.
The presence of microplastics (MPs) in the gastrointestinal tract, muscle, and whole-body samples of common bleak Alburnus alburnus L. from Gruža Reservoir (Central Serbia) was studied for the first time. Different protocols for MPs extraction were applied to determine the most efficient one. The study aimed to modify existing protocols to be cost-effective, efficient in digestion, and with no detrimental effect on potentially present MPs polymers. In this study, the digestion with 10% KOH during 48 h at 40°C was efficient for the gastrointestinal tract and muscle. Digestion with 10% KOH during 72 h at 40°C was the most efficient for whole-body samples. The usage of NaClO proved successful in digestion of the gastrointestinal tract overnight at room temperature. Fibers detected in the samples are assumed to be of plastic origin. The general goal was to establish a protocol for extracting MPs from fish tissue in wild populations to obtain results and determine the degree of pollution.
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From Anthropogenic Pressure to Biological Response: Microplastic Ingestion in the Wild Population of Alburnus alburnus Across Freshwater Reservoirs
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Researchers examined small fish called common bleak from three Serbian reservoirs with different levels of human activity. Microplastics were found in over a third of fish, with more plastic in reservoirs with greater human impact, and fish with more plastic tended to be in poorer body condition.
Microplastics contamination in wild populations of freshwater fish Alburnus alburnus from the Danube River: ecological implications and bioindicator potential
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Microplastics were detected in 51% of wild common bleak fish from the Danube River, with longer fish more likely to contain particles and fish with lower body condition more frequently affected, suggesting real-world ecological impacts even at low exposure levels. Common bleak's feeding behavior makes it a valuable bioindicator for freshwater microplastic monitoring, with implications for human health given its role in regional food chains.
Experimental development of a new protocol for extraction and characterization of microplastics in fish tissues: First observations in commercial species from Adriatic Sea
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Researchers developed and tested a new protocol for the extraction and characterization of microplastics from environmental samples, optimizing steps for recovery efficiency and polymer identification accuracy.
Effective and easy to use extraction method shows low numbers of microplastics in offshore planktivorous fish from the northern Baltic Sea
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Microplastics were found at low levels in planktivorous fish from the northern Baltic Sea using a validated alkaline digestion extraction method. The study demonstrates an efficient, validated protocol for detecting microplastics in fish and provides baseline contamination data for Baltic marine food webs.
Nondestructive Extraction and Identification of Microplastics from Freshwater Sport Fish Stomachs
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Researchers developed a nondestructive protocol for extracting and identifying microplastics from freshwater sport fish stomachs containing large amounts of biological material, enabling more accurate counts without damaging the plastics. This method improvement helps ensure that ingested microplastics in fish are not missed or damaged during laboratory processing.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.