We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Abundance, characteristics and variation of microplastics in different freshwater fish species from Bangladesh
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined 48 freshwater fish from 18 species in Bangladesh and found microplastics in the digestive tracts of over 73% of the fish studied. Fibers were the most common shape, and the plastics were primarily polyethylene and polypropylene-based polymers. Bottom-dwelling fish contained more microplastics than those living higher in the water column, suggesting that contaminated sediments are a significant source of exposure for freshwater species.
Microplastic (MP) contamination in fish species is one of the emerging environmental problems due to the proliferation of plastic pollution in the environment. The occurrence of MPs in the freshwater of Bangladesh is currently unreported, and in contrast to other counties of the world, little is known about the occurrence of this contaminant in freshwater fishes. Hence, this study investigated the abundance, characteristics, and variation of MPs in different commercial freshwater fish species from Bangladesh. This country generates a considerable amount of plastic waste annually, and a significant portion of its remains uncollected. Forty eight fishes from eighteen taxa spanning different feeding zones were collected to observe the difference in MPs ingestion rate among various feeding zones. MPs were found in the gastrointestinal tracts (GIT) of 73.3% of all examined fish samples, which is relatively higher than previously reported studies in other regions. The abundance of MPs was found highest in Mystus vittatus among all of the fish species. Microscopic analyses (polarized light, SEM) revealed that MPs were dominated by fiber in shape and transparent in color. Fourier Transform Infrared analysis (FTIR) showed that polymers found in fish GIT were high density polyethylene, polypropylene-polyethylene copolymer and ethylene vinyl acetate. The results of this study show that demersal fishes presented a higher amount of MPs than registered in benthopelagic and pelagic fishes, indicating the ingestion of plastics in fish may relate to the feeding habitat. However, differences in body weight and length of the fishes were not found to influence the MPs ingestion. Our findings will help to aware people which freshwater fishes and fishes from which feeding zone are more contaminated with MPs to human consumption in Bangladesh.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics in Some Freshwater Wild and Farmed Fish Species of Bangladesh
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found microplastics in multiple freshwater fish species from both wild river populations and farmed fish in Bangladesh, with fibers being the dominant type. The study highlights the widespread contamination of both wild and farmed fish in major Bangladeshi rivers, with implications for human dietary exposure through fish consumption.
Prevalence of microplastics in commonly consumed fish species of the river Old Brahmaputra, Bangladesh
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found microplastics in nearly 59% of edible fish from Bangladesh's Old Brahmaputra river, with polyethylene fibers and pellets dominating, and ingestion rates linked to fish size, feeding behavior, and downstream location.
Microplastics in pelagic and demersal fishes from the Meghna River estuary, Bangladesh
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists examined 80 fish from the Meghna River estuary in Bangladesh and found microplastics in over 81% of them, with an average of about 7 particles per fish. Polyethylene, polypropylene, and nylon fibers were the most common types found in the fish digestive tracts. Since these are species commonly eaten by local communities, the findings raise concerns about microplastic exposure through the food chain.
Pervasiveness of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract of some selected fish species from Turag River alongside the capital city of Bangladesh
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found microplastics in all three species of fish collected from the Turag River near Dhaka, Bangladesh, with fiber being the dominant type at 89-93% of all particles found. The most common plastics identified were polypropylene, polystyrene, and low-density polyethylene, with the majority of particles smaller than 0.5 mm. Since these freshwater fish are a major protein source for local communities, the contamination raises concerns about microplastic exposure through the food supply in urban areas of developing countries.
Microplastics in fishes from the Meghna River estuary, Bangladesh
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found microplastics in over 80% of fish sampled from the Meghna River estuary in Bangladesh, with fibres being the most common type and polyethylene and polypropylene the dominant polymers. The contamination of these commercially important fish species signals a risk of microplastic exposure for people who eat them, particularly in communities where fish is a dietary staple.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.