The consequences of plastic waste pollution have imposed wide global concerns. One of these consequences is the production of micro- and nanosized particles (MNPLs) from aged plastics. The problem of MNPLs is magnified by their potential to transport various contaminants due to their large surface area and other variable physiochemical properties. From this point on, it is important to know the real concentration of MNPLs in our environment and their potential to internalize wild organisms as well as transfer contaminants that are completely highlighted. As a result, our study is the first to detect MP pollution in the upper Egypt wastewater environment. It could be utilized as a baseline to estimate MP wastes and develop management techniques, particularly in Sohag Governorate. The concentration and characterization of MPs in sludge, water, Chironomus sp. larvae, and their tubes were studied in this work. Chironomus sp. is a reliable bioindicator prevalent in such contaminated environments, and it was used to demonstrate how MPs invade biological barriers. Our results found that red and blue polyester fibers are much more prevalent than other polymers, colors, and shapes of MPs. While each dry kilogram of wastewater sludge contains 310 ± 84 particles, this amount is reduced to 1.55 ± 0.7 per liter in the water column. Biologically, the present study succeeded in detecting the MPs inside the wild organism, with concentrations reaching 71 ± 21 and 4.41 ± 1.1 particles per gram wet weight in Chironomus sp. larvae and their tubes (chironomid tubes), respectively. The potential hazard of MPs stems from their propensity to transfer pollutants. At this point, our findings revealed a corresponding and significant concentration of various heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cd, and Ni) detected in MPs or Chironomus sp. versus sludge. In conclusion, our findings not only proved the presence of MPs in wastewater but also demonstrated their ability to internalize cross-wild organisms, allowing toxins to accumulate inside their bodies, raising concerns about the possible health impacts of plastic pollution.
Microplastics (MPs) have been detected in many freshwater organisms because of increasing plastic contamination within the freshwater environment. However, the correlation between MPs in organisms and their surrounding environment still needs studies. This study investigates MP contamination in one of the wastewater ponds east of Sohag Governorate, Egypt. Four common freshwater insect families representing different feeding guilds were employed to detect MPs contamination. The collector-gatherer (Chironomidae, Chironomus sp.) recorded the highest MP load per gram wet weight. However, predators (Aeshnidae, Aeshna sp.) recorded the lowest one. A reverse trend was observed based on MP load per individual. Polyester fibers were the most common type of MPs followed by fragments (Polyethylene and polypropylene) in both sediment and water. However, only polyester fibers were found in the different insect taxa. The blue color was the predominant color in the water, sediment, and insect fauna. The mean length of fibers in the different insects was a little smaller than those in the surrounding environment. The presence of MPs in some examined insects (lower trophic levels) gives a possibility of transferring to higher levels following predation. Therefore, further studies should be carried out along different feeding groups of higher levels to detect the potential risk of MPs on different freshwater fauna.
Microplastics (MPs) are frequently regarded as environmental and biota contaminants. Yet, research on the accumulation of MPs in living entities, particularly aquatic insects that serve as food resources in the aquatic food chain, is limited. This study to investigate the accumulation of MPs in aquatic insects from water and sediment in an Egyptian wastewater basin. Four typical freshwater insect groups were used. The highest MP load per gram wet weight was reported by collector‐gatherers (Chironomus sp. and Hydrophilus sp.), followed by collector‐filterers (Culex sp.) with the second highest MP load. However, Predators (Aeshna sp.) had the lowest values. Also, the present results showed a reduction in the number of MPs in all insect taxa tested after a 24 h depuration time, with differences in the observed egestion ability. The mean number of MPs per individual significantly reduced after 24 h in both Chironomus sp. and Culex sp. larvae, where 53% and 40% of MPs particles were ejected from them, respectively. However, the ability of MP egestion decreases in Aeshna sp. nymph (25%), and the lowest proportion of ejection was observed in Hydrophilus sp. adults (9%). Polyethylene terephthalate fibers were the most abundant type of MP in both sediment and water, followed by fragments (polyethylene and polypropylene). Yet, only polyester fibers were detected in the various insect species. The average length of fibers in the various insects was somewhat shorter than in the surrounding environment. The current study reveals that MP ingestion by aquatic insects is not always related to levels of pollution in the environment, since other factors such as feeding strategies may play a role in MP ingestion. Based on these observations, further studies should be carried out on studies on toxicological impacts of MPs on freshwater/aquatic biota.
Context Microplastic (MP) contamination is a strong candidate to be one of the most important environmental problems worldwide. Microplastics have been detected in many freshwater organisms because of increasing plastic contamination within aquatic ecosystems. However, the correlation between MPs in organisms and their surrounding environments still needs further study. Aim This is the first study assessing the accumulation of MPs in aquatic fauna from water and sediment by bioaccumulation equations in one of the wastewater basins in Sohag Governorate, Egypt. Methods Four common freshwater insect families representing different feeding guilds were employed to detect MP contamination. Key results The collector–gatherers (Chironomidae and Hydrophilidae) recorded the highest MP load per gram wet weight, the highest bioaccumulation factor (BCF), and the biota-sediment accumulation factor (BSAF), whereas predators (Aeshnidae) recorded the lowest values. In both sediment and water, polyester fibres were the most common type of MP, followed by fragments (polyethylene and polypropylene). However, only polyester fibres were found in the different insect taxa. The blue colour was the predominant colour in the water, sediment and insect fauna. The mean length of fibres in the different insects was a little smaller than those in the surrounding environment. Conclusion The present study suggests that MP ingestion by aquatic insects is not necessarily associated with environmental pollution levels, because other factors such as feeding strategies and habitats may play an important role in MP ingestion. Implications The presence of MPs in the insects (lower trophic levels) gives a possibility of inter trophic-level transfer through predation. As a result, higher trophic-level studies in different feeding groups should be conducted to detect the potential risk of MPs on different freshwater fauna.
Plastic pollution of freshwater environments, particularly microplastic (MP), is a global ecological issue of growing scientific concern. This has sparked a flurry of studies on the presence of MP, its interactions with chemical pollutants, its uptake by aquatic species, and the ensuing (bad) impact. The primary objective of this article is to 1) show the distribution of MPs in freshwater environments, 2) display the interactions between MPs and heavy metals in freshwater ecosystems, and 3) to summarize the existing literature on MPs uptake by aquatic organisms and their impacts.
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