VISUAL IDENTIFICATION OF MICROPLASTIC CONTAMINATION IN COMMON BLEAK (Alburnus alburnus, L. 1758) FROM GRUŽA LAKE

3rd International Symposium On Biotechnology (2025),  [pp. 333-342]

AUTHOR(S) / AUTOR(I): Marijana Nikolić, Marija Jakovljević, Aleksandra Tubić, Branko Kordić, Branislav Jović, Predrag Simović, Vladica Simić

Download Full Pdf   

DOI: 10.46793/SBT30.40MN

ABSTRACT / SAŽETAK:

Microplastics (MPs) in freshwater ecosystems pose significant environmental risks, particularly to fish populations. This study examines the gastrointestinal (GI) tract contents of fish, revealing a predominance of blue fibers, likely originating from textiles and fishing activities. After visual detection, digestion of residual biological material is needed for precise analysis. Identifying MPs requires chemical techniques like FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. Blood traces in fish intestines suggest potential physiological impacts. As lakes act as pollution sinks, understanding MPs sources is crucial for mitigating risks to aquatic ecosystems and ensuring environmental sustainability.

KEYWORDS / KLJUČNE REČI:

Microplastics, Gastrointestinal tract, Freshwater ecosystems, Morphological classification

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT / PROJEKAT:

This research was funded by the Serbian Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation under grant no. 451-03-136/2025-03/ 200122.

REFERENCES / LITERATURA:

  • Ali M. A. A., Khalid A. A., Abd Razak N. I., Mohd Maulana N. S., Roslan N. S., Razmi R. S. B., Wan Ruseli W. M. A., Ibrahim Y. S., Jaafar M., Shahrudin R., Ismail K., Anuar S. T. (2024). A review on the presence of microplastics in environmental matrices within Southeast Asia: elucidating risk information through an analysis of microplastic characteristics such as size, shape, and type. Water Emerging Contaminants & Nanoplastics. Volume (3): 12.
  • Andrady A. L., Barnes P. W., Bornman J. F., Gouin T., Madronich S., White C. C., Zepp R. G., Jansen M. A. K. (2022). Oxidation and fragmentation of plastics in a changing environment; from UV-radiation to biological degradation. Science of The Total Environment. Volume: (851) 2. 158022.
  • Aslam H., Ali T., Mortula M. M., Attaelmanan A. G. (2020). Evaluation of microplastics in beach sediments along the coast of Dubai, UAE. Marine Pollution Bulletin. Volume (150): 110739. ISSN 0025-326X.
  • Aves, A. R., Revell, L. E., Gaw, S., Ruffell, H., Schuddeboom, A., Wotherspoon, E., LaRue, M., McDonald, A. J. (2022). First evidence of microplastics in Antarctic snow. The Cryosphere, 16, 2127–2145.
  • Battisti C., Fanelli G., Filpa A., Cerfolli F. (2020). Giant reed (Arundo donax) wrack as sink for plastic beach litter: first evidence and implication. Marine Pollution Bulletin. Volume (155):111179
  • Bessa F., Barría P., Neto J. M., Frias J. P. G. L., Otero V., Sobral P., Marques J. C. (2018). Occurrence of microplastics in commercial fish from a natural estuarine environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume (128): 575-584.
  • Chen D., Wang P., Liu S., Wang R., Wu Y., Zhu A-X., Deng C. (2024). Global patterns of lake microplastic pollution: Insights from regional human development levels. Science of The Total Environment. Volume (954). 176620, ISSN 0048-9697
  • David K. A. B., Galgani F., Thompson R. C., Barlaz M. (2009). Accumulationand fragmentation of plastic debris in global environments. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. Volume (364): 1985–1998.
  • Dris R., Beaurepaire M., Bouzid N., Stratmann C., Nguyen M. T., Bordignon F., Gasperi J., Tassin B. ( 2024). Chapter 3 – Sampling and analyzing microplastics in rivers: What methods are being used after a decade of research? , Editor(s): Eddy Y. Zeng, Microplastic Contamination in Aquatic Environments (Second Edition), Elsevier, Pages 65-91, ISBN 9780443153327.
  • Duis K., Coors A. (2016). Microplastics in the aquatic and terrestrial environment: sources (with a specific focus on personal care products), fate and effects. Environmental Sciences Europe. Volume (28): 2
  • Eerkes-Medrano D., Thompson R. C., Aldridge D. C. (2015). Microplastics in freshwater systems: A review of the emerging threats, identification of knowledge gaps and prioritisation of research needs. Water Research. Volume (75): 63-82.
  • Fan J., Zou L., Duan T., Qin L., Qi Z., Sun J. (2022). Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in surface water and sediments in China’s inland water systems: a critical review. Journal of Cleaner Production. Volume (331):129968
  • Garrido-Gamarro E., Ryder J., Elvevoll E. O., Olsen R. L. (2020). Microplastics in Fish and Shellfish – A Threat to Seafood Safety? Journal of Aquatic Food Product Technology. Volume (29) 4: 417–425.
  • Geyer R., Jambeck J. R., Lavender K. (2017). Law Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made. Science Advances. Volume (3):1700782.
  • Kögel T, Hamilton B. M., Granberg M. E., Provencher J., Hammer S., Gomiero A., Magnusson K., Lusher A. (2023). Current efforts on microplastic monitoring in Arctic fish and how to proceed. Arctic Science. Volume 9(2): 266-283.
  • Lambert S., Scherer C., Wagner M. (2017). Ecotoxicity testing of microplastics: Considering the heterogeneity of physicochemical properties. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, Volume (13): 3. 470–475.
  • Lingshi Y., Li D., Xiaofeng W., Danlian H., Ruihao X., Zeyu W., Hongyu S., Jiali H., Guangfu W., Jiaxi T., Yuantai K. (2023). Occurrence and Effects of Microplastics in Lake Ecosystems: Particular Focus on Migration in Water and Food Chains. Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicologyformerly. Volume (261) 11.
  • Löder M.G.L., Gerdts, G. (2015). Methodology Used for the Detection and Identification of Microplastics—A Critical Appraisal. Marine Anthropogenic Litter (eds. Bargeman, M., Gutow, G. and Klages, M.). Heidelbderg, Germany. Springer Open. 201-227.
  • Lusher A. L., Brate I. L. N., Munno K., Hurley R. R., Welden N. A. (2020). Is It or Isn`t It: The Importance of Visual Classification in Microplastic Characterization. Applied Spectroscopy, Special Issue: Microplastics. Volume 0: 1-15
  • Maurizi L., Simon-Sánchez L., Vianello A., Nielsen A. H., Vollertsen J. (2024). Every breath you take: High concentration of breathable microplastics in indoor environments. Chemosphere, Volume (361): 142553, ISSN 0045-6535.
  • Maheswaran B., Karmegam N., Al-Ansari M., Subbaiya R., Al-Humaid L., Raj J. S., Govarthanan M. (2022). Assessment, characterization, and quantification of microplastics from river sediments. Chemosphere. Volume (298): 134268,
  • Nuamah F., Tulashie S. K., Debrah J. S., Pèlèbè R. O. E. (2023). Microplastics in the Gulf of Guinea: An analysis of concentrations and distribution in sediments, gills, and guts of fish collected off the coast of Ghana. Environmental Research. Volume (234): 116567, ISSN 0013-9351.
  • Ory N. C., Sobral P., Ferreira J. L., Thiel M. (2017). Amberstripe scad Decapterus muroadsi (Carangidae) fish ingest blue microplastics resembling their copepod prey along the coast of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) in the South Pacific subtropical gyre. Science of The Total Environment. Volume (586): 430-437.
  • Pinheiro C., Oliveira U., Vieira M. (2017). Occurrence and Impacts of Microplastics in Freshwater Fish. Journal of Aquaculture & Marine Biology. Volume (5): 6.
  • Plastics  Europe (2019) Plastics—The Facts 2019. https://plasticseurope.org/knowledge-hub/plastics-the-facts-2019/
  •  
  • Rebelein A., Int-Veen I., Kammann U., Scharsack J. P. (2021). Microplastic fibers — Underestimated threat to aquatic organisms?. Science of The Total Environment. Volume (777): 146045.
  • Ritchie M. W., Cheslock A., Bourdages M. P. T., Hamilton B. M., Provencher J. F., Allison J. E., MacMillan H. A. (2023). Quantifying microplastic ingestion, degradation and excretion in insects using fluorescent plastics. Conservation Physiology Volume:11(1).
  • Roch S., Friedrich C., Brinker, A. (2020). Uptake routes of microplastics in fishes: practical and theoretical approaches to test existing theories. Scientific Reports. Volume (10): 3896
  • Rodrigues M.O., Abrantes N., Gonçalves F.J.M., Nogueira H., Marques J.C., Gonçalves A.M.M. (2018). Spatial and temporal distribution of microplastics in water and sediments of a freshwater system (Antuã River, Portugal). Science of The Total Environment. Volume (633): 1549-1559.
  • Salerno M., Berlino M., Mangano M. C., Sarà G. (2021). Microplastics and the functional traits of fishes: a global me-taanalysis . Global Change Biology. Volume 27(12). 2645-2655.
  • Sanchez W., Bender C., Porcher J. M. (2014). Wild gudgeons (Gobio gobio) from French rivers are contaminated by microplastics: preliminary study and first evidence. Environmental Research. Volume (128): 98-100.
  • Santana M.F.M., Moreira F.T., Turra A. (2017). Trophic transference of microplastics under a low exposure scenario: Insights on the likelihood of particle cascading along marine food-webs. Marine Pollution Bulletin. Volume (121): 154-159.
  • Siddiqa S., Gautam S., Eti S. A., Khatun F., Rahman M. M., Solayman H. M., Aziz A. A., Khan B. (2025). Characterization, distribution, and risk assessment of microplastic in fish and sediment from the longest river of Bangladesh. Water Environment Research. Volume 97(2), e70029.
  • Singh J., Yadav B. K., Schneidewind U., Krause S. (2024). Microplastics pollution in inland aquatic ecosystems of India with a global perspective on sources, composition, and spatial distribution. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies. Volume (53) 101798.
  • Taha Z. D., Amin R. Md., Anuar S.T., Nasser A. A. A., Sohaimi E. S. (2021). Microplastics in seawater and zooplankton: A case study from Terengganu estuary and offshore waters, Malaysia. Science of The Total Environment. Volume (786):147466, ISSN 0048-9697.
  • Wang T., Wang L., Chen Q., Kalogerakis N., Ji R., Ma Y. (2020). Interactions between  microplastics  and  organic  pollutants:  Effects  on  toxicity, bioaccumulation, degradation, and transport. Science of The Total Environment. Volume (748): 142427.
  • Zhang Y., Gao T., Kang S., Allen S., Luo X., Allen D. (2021). Microplastics in glaciers of the Tibetan Plateau: Evidence for the long-range transport of microplastics. Science of The Total Environment. Volume (758). 143634, ISSN 0048-9697