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The Evaluation of Microplastic Reduction in Biofloc Aquaculture for Sustainable Nile Tilapia Cultivation
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Researchers evaluated biofloc technology as a strategy to reduce microplastic levels in water and Nile tilapia tissues in aquaculture, using ecological risk assessment to evaluate residual contamination. Biofloc systems reduced MP concentrations in both water and fish tissues compared to conventional systems, supporting biofloc technology as a partial mitigation strategy.
Sustainable aquaculture requires environments free from microplastic contamination. However, microplastics are now commonly found in aquatic systems, including fish farms, where they can accumulate in organisms and enter the food chain. This study evaluates the effectiveness of biofloc technology in reducing microplastic levels in water and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), using ecological risk indices: Pollution Hazard Index (PHI), Pollution Load Index (PLI), and Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI). The experiment lasted 50 days with four treatments, including polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) exposure. Microplastic concentrations ranged from 0.12 to 0.33 particles/L, with highest accumulation in the fish esophagus (39.2 ± 6.87 particles/g). Identified polymers included PE, PVC, and PA. Risk indices showed PHI = 166.69, PLI = 1.01–1.66, and PERI = 21.49, indicating medium to high ecological risks. Results show that biofloc effectively reduces microplastic levels, making it a promising solution for sustainable aquaculture. The study highlights the need for better plastic waste management policies and stricter regulation of PVC and PET near farming areas.
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Study on the dynamics of microplastics in the biofloc system for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) aquaculture
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Researchers studied how microplastics behave in biofloc aquaculture systems — where beneficial bacteria clusters are used to improve water quality — finding that microplastics accumulate in both the bacterial clusters and tilapia tissues, with intestinal contamination rising sharply at higher plastic concentrations. The results show that biofloc technology does not protect fish from microplastic exposure and that plastic management is essential for safe aquaculture.
The Impact of Biofloc on Fish Growth Indicators and Health Risks Assesment from Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastic Contamination
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Researchers evaluated how biofloc technology affects Nile tilapia growth performance and assessed health risks associated with PET microplastic contamination in biofloc aquaculture systems, finding that biofloc improved growth but did not eliminate microplastic-related risks.
The impact of microplastics on water quality, heavy metals, and health risks in bioflocbased tilapia farming systems
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Researchers tested biofloc technology—which uses microbial aggregates—to reduce microplastic and heavy metal (Fe, Zn, Cu) contamination in tilapia aquaculture systems, finding it improved water quality through flocculation and biosorption of plastic and metal particles.
Synergetic Health Effects of Microplastics With Microbe on Tilapia in the Biofloc Technology System
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Researchers investigated the combined effects of microplastics and environmental microbes on tilapia health in biofloc aquaculture systems. MP exposure in combination with biofloc microbiome alterations produced synergistic health effects in fish, including immune and metabolic stress, suggesting that aquaculture microbial ecology modulates MP toxicity.
Impacts of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to microplastics in bioflocs system
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Researchers assessed the effects of polystyrene microplastics on Nile tilapia raised in a bioflocs aquaculture system over 28 days. While the microplastics did not significantly affect water quality, fish growth, or digestive enzymes, they accumulated most heavily in the liver and increased markers of oxidative stress. The findings suggest that even in biofloc systems rich in beneficial microbes, microplastics can still accumulate in fish organs and cause subtle biological harm.
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