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Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis

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Published on: December 16, 2016

Microplastics Interception from Riverine Ecosystems and Translocation to Fish Internal Organs.

Giulia Papini^1,2, Clara Boglione³, Arnold Rakaj^3,4

¹Laboratory of Experimental Ecology and Aquaculture, Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Roma, 00133, Italy. giulia.papini@alumni.uniroma2.eu.

Scientific Reports

|March 28, 2026

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Microplastics (MPs) contaminate urban rivers and accumulate in fish organs, particularly the liver and kidney. Fish size, shape, and feeding habits influence MP uptake and distribution, with smaller MPs posing a significant risk.

Keywords:

Bioaccumulation Occurrence Risk assessment Translocation fate Trophic ecology

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Area of Science:

Environmental Science
Ecotoxicology
Aquatic Ecology

Background:

Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive environmental contaminants in aquatic ecosystems.
Understanding the pathways of MP uptake and accumulation in fish is crucial for assessing ecological risks.

Purpose of the Study:

To quantify MP contamination in an urban river system.
To investigate MP interception and organ-specific accumulation in the freshwater fish bleak (Alburnus arborella).
To identify factors influencing MP translocation and distribution within fish.

Main Methods:

Water column MP concentrations were measured.
Six fish organs (GI tract, liver, kidney, muscle, brain, gonads) were analyzed for MP presence, concentration, shape, and size.
Trophic ecology and MP morphology were correlated with accumulation patterns.

Main Results:

Significant MP loads were found downstream of a metropolitan area and in all examined fish organs.
The liver and kidney exhibited the highest MP concentrations.
Trophic transfer was identified as a key route for MP uptake.
Organ-specific MP translocation was observed, with size and shape influencing distribution (e.g., fibers in muscle, spheres in brain).

Conclusions:

MP size and shape, along with fish feeding ecology, dictate MP interception and distribution.
Smaller MPs represent a particular risk due to their potential to cross biological barriers.
Findings highlight the need for field studies on MP bioaccumulation and long-term effects, incorporating MP morphology and ecological interactions into risk assessments.