Microplastic Accumulation in Crayfish Astacus Leptodactylus (Eschscholtz, 1823) and Sediments of Durusu (Terkos) Lake (Turkey)

Microplastic Accumulation in Crayfish Astacus leptodactylus (Eschscholtz 1823) and Sediments of Durusu (Terkos) Lake (Turkey)

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Freshwater crayfish in Istanbul's Durusu (Terkos) Lake, a major drinking water reservoir, were found to contain up to 19.67 microplastic pieces per individual in their gills, with polypropylene as the dominant polymer in both crayfish and surrounding sediments. This first-time documentation of microplastic contamination in both the biota and sediment of a Turkish drinking water source signals a dual public health concern: contamination of aquatic food sources and potential migration into water supply systems.

Spatial distribution and characterization of microplastics in crayfish from inland waters of Türkiye

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Researchers analyzed 200 crayfish from eight Turkish lakes and detected microplastics in 62% of individuals, with significant spatial variation linked to land use and wastewater inputs, and polyethylene and PET fibers and fragments predominating. Freshwater crayfish prove effective bioindicators for mapping microplastic pollution across inland water bodies, revealing how human activity patterns drive contamination of food species consumed by local communities.

Microplastics in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Red Swamp Crayfish

Astacus leptodactylus is collecting microplastics in dam reservoir: a new record for Türkiye

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Twenty crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus) sampled from Keban Dam Lake in Turkey were found to contain microplastics in their muscle, gut, and gill tissues, marking the first documented record of MP contamination in this species in Turkey. As an ecologically important "ecosystem engineer" and economically valuable food species, crayfish contamination signals broader plastic pollution in freshwater dam reservoirs. The findings add to evidence that microplastics are now reaching and accumulating in commercially harvested freshwater species.

Macroplastic and Microplastic in the Freshwater Environment of Southern Iraq: Evidences Obtained from Freshwater Fish Species

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Freshwater fish species collected from southern Iraq were found to have ingested both macro- and microplastic fragments, providing early evidence of plastic contamination moving through freshwater food webs in the Tigris-Euphrates river system. Fish as biomonitors for plastic pollution offer a practical tool for assessing contamination levels in freshwater systems and signaling potential risks for communities that consume locally caught fish.