We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Ingestion and the toxicological effects of virgin polyethylene (PE) and polyvinylchloride (PVC) microplastics in commercial freshwater fish, tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
Summary
Researchers exposed tilapia to polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride microplastics through their diet over 21 days and observed behavioral changes, mortality, and reduced growth rates. The study suggests that ingestion of common microplastic types can impair the health and survival of commercially important freshwater fish, with implications for aquaculture and food safety.
Microplastics (MPs), which are tiny particles measuring less than 5 mm, have emerged as a notable environmental issue due to their widespread presence in aquatic environments and their potential to harm aquatic organisms. In this study, the diet of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed them to two types of MP materials: PE and PVC fragments. The fish were exposed for three weeks (21 days), and various behavioural changes and mortality were noticed. Moreover, microplastics can impact the growth, reproduction, and survival of tilapia, as evidenced by reduced growth rates and observed behavioural changes in exposed fish. Such modifications might have important effects on the general condition and population dynamics of aquatic environments. In both the gill and gastrointestinal tract (GIT), the MP fragments were accumulated. The GIT of tilapia fish revealed 4.8 ±2.7 items/individual from the collected PVC pieces; gills included 6.6±2.07 items/individual. Similarly, PE fragment accumulation in the GI tract of fish showed 5.6±2.6 items/individual, and the gills showed 5.8±0.84 items/individual. A dietary intake of microplastics led to increasing inflammatory alterations in the liver and intestines. This study assessed the levels of oxidative enzymes in exposed groups of fish (control, PVC, and PE fragments). The MP-exposed tilapia fish exhibited remarkable changes in the enzyme level and the nutritional values, which were compared to control groups. All things considered, microplastics seriously compromise the health and ecological processes of freshwater fish, including tilapia. More study is required to completely understand these effects as well as develop feasible strategies for reducing the microplastics' hazard in freshwater habitats.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Ingestion and the toxicological effects of virgin polyethylene (PE) and PVC microplastics in commercial freshwater fish, Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
Researchers exposed Nile tilapia to virgin polyethylene and PVC microplastics for 21 days, finding that both types caused behavioral changes and mortality, with PVC producing greater toxicity, reduced growth rates, and histological damage to gut and liver tissue.
The The Effect of Exposure to Microplastic Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) in Feed on the Growth and Survival of Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
Researchers studied the effects of polyvinyl chloride microplastics mixed into feed on the growth and survival of tilapia fish over a 30-day period. They found that higher concentrations of microplastics in feed led to reduced growth rates and lower survival compared to the control group. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in aquatic environments could negatively affect commercially important fish species through dietary exposure.
Assessment of dietary polyvinylchloride, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate exposure in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus: Bioaccumulation, and effects on behaviour, growth, hematology and histology
Nile tilapia fish fed three common types of microplastics (PVC, polypropylene, and PET) showed reduced growth, abnormal behavior, blood cell damage, and tissue damage in their gills, liver, and intestines. The harmful effects increased with higher doses of microplastics and varied by plastic type. Since tilapia is one of the most widely consumed fish globally, these findings raise concerns about the health of fish that may carry microplastic contamination to human diets.
Survival rate and growth performance of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed in polyvinyl chloride microplastics
This study tested how polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics affect the survival and growth of tilapia, a widely eaten fish. While focused on fish rather than humans, it provides data on how microplastics in water can harm aquatic life that ends up on our plates. The findings add to concerns about microplastic contamination in the food chain.
Toxicological assessment of dietary exposure of polyethylene microplastics on growth, nutrient digestibility, carcass and gut histology of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings
Researchers fed Nile tilapia fish diets containing different amounts of polyethylene microplastics and found that higher levels significantly reduced growth, nutrient absorption, and body composition. Fish exposed to the highest microplastic concentration (10%) showed severe gut damage visible under a microscope. Since tilapia is widely farmed for human consumption, these findings raise concerns about microplastic contamination affecting both fish health and the safety of farmed seafood.