EC Pharmacology and Toxicology

The growing incidence of microplastic pollution in freshwater environments has become a major environmental and public health issue. The present study was undertaken to explore the presence and nature of microplastics in two commonly consumed freshwater fish species, Labeo rohita (rohu) and Clarias batrachus (magur), obtained from local markets in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India. Analysis detected the occurrence of different forms of microplastics, such as fibres and fragments, but with fibres being the most prevalent. They were of variable colour and morphology, with clear and red colours being most prominent, followed by black and purple fragments. The composition and spread of microplastics were variably different for the two species, indicating potentially different feeding patterns or levels of habitat contamination. The results highlight the imperative need for the surveillance of freshwater bodies for plastic contamination and necessitate more stringent waste management strategies. The research adds to the existing literature on microplastics in freshwater ecosystems and emphasizes the possible threats to aquatic life and human health via trophic transfer. In summary, the results of this research are not simply the localized environmental problem that they signify but have meaning with wider ecosystem and human health consequences.

 Keywords: Microplastics; Labeo rohita; Clarias batrachus; Meerut

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