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Microplastics Occurrence in Earthworm (Lampito mauritii) from the Mettur Dam, Southern India and Contamination Indices: Investigation and Indication
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Researchers extracted and characterized microplastics from the guts of 40 earthworms collected near Mettur Dam in southern India, identifying 435 plastic particles across four morphologies — fragments, films, threads, and pellets — composed primarily of cellophane, polyamide, and polyarylether polymers.
Ubiquitous pollution due to microplastics through the food chain is a major cause of various deleterious effects on human and animal health. This study aimed to investigate the existence and characterization of microplastics in earthworms (Lampito mauritii) collected from the Kaveri River, Mettur Dam, Southern India. The MPs were extracted from 40 earthworms by 10% of potassium hydroxide digestion medium. The extracted MPs were characterized using an optical microscope, Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FT-IR) spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray analysis (FESEM-EDX). Totally, 435 MPs are particles in the gut of the 40 earthworms, and four forms of MPs are fragments, films, threads, and pellets along with the smallest (0.1 mm) and greatest (1 mm) of MPs. ATR-FT-IR spectrum indicated three prominent polymer compounds, namely cellophane (CP), polyamide (PA), and polyarylether (PAE). The FESEM images observed that the majority of the microfibers had smooth surfaces and linear forms along with attachment of heavy metals. Our results highlight the preliminary insights into the presence of MPs in earthworm gut.
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