Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) have received increasing attention in the last decade and are now considered among the most concerning emerging pollutants in natural environments. Here, the current knowledge on microplastic ingestion by wild freshwater fish is reviewed with a focus on the identification of possible factors leading to the ingestion of MPs and the consequences on fish health. Within the literature, 257 species of freshwater fishes from 32 countries have been documented to ingest MPs. MPs ingestion was found to increase with rising level of urbanization, although a direct correlation with MPs concentration in the surrounding water has not been identified. MPs ingestion was detected in all the published articles, with MPs presence in more than 50% of the specimens analyzed in one study out of two. Together with the digestive tract, MPs were also found in the gills, and there is evidence that MPs can translocate to different tissues of the organism. Strong evidence, therefore, exists that MPs may represent a serious risk for ecosystems, and are a direct danger for human health. Moreover, toxicological effects have also been highlighted in wild catches, demonstrating the importance of this problem and suggesting the need for laboratory experiments more representative of the environmental situation.
Highlights
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
The first alarming reports of plastic pollution aroused during the 1970s in the Sargasso sea [2], in coastal water around England [3], and the Northwest
To outline the general framework of the current knowledge on this topic, evaluate the possible factors that could make fish a good proxy for MPs pollution, and assess whether it is possible to underline toxicological effects in free-living specimens, this review aims at: Water 2021, 13, 2214 (i) summarize the data published in the scientific literature relating to MPs ingestion, entanglement in the gills, and translocation to other organs, in wild freshwater; (ii) outline potential factors that can trigger MPs ingestion; (iii) describe the effects on health status that have been reported examining freshwater fish wild catches
Summary
The first alarming reports of plastic pollution aroused during the 1970s in the Sargasso sea [2], in coastal water around England [3], and the Northwest
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
