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Yamuna Fish Contaminated With Microplastics
4 Aug
Summary
- All freshwater fish species in the Yamuna river have microplastics.
- Delhi fish show much higher contamination than upstream species.
- Microplastics found in fish guts, gills, and muscle tissues.
Microplastics have been detected in every freshwater fish species examined from the Yamuna River, according to a recent study by the University of Delhi. Researchers found that fish collected from the heavily urbanized Delhi stretch of the river showed considerably higher levels of microplastic contamination than those sourced from upstream areas.
The study analyzed 220 fish across 12 species from four locations. The findings confirm the extensive distribution of microplastics throughout the river ecosystem, with the downstream stretches in Delhi identified as a high contamination zone. This gradient in contamination is attributed to urban wastewater, textile effluents, and increased particulate load in the metropolitan section.
Microplastics were identified in the fish's gastrointestinal tract, gills, and muscle tissues. The presence in muscle tissue raises concerns about potential translocation and direct exposure risks for human consumers who rely on these fish for protein.
Analysis revealed 10 different polymer types, with polyethylene and polypropylene being the most common. The study classified the microplastic mixture as Category IV, indicating a high ecological hazard.
