| Authors | DR. NEELAKANTH S. WALI & DR. VISHWAJIT B DAREKAR |
|---|---|
| Article Type | Research Article |
| Language | English |
| Journal | North Asian International Research Journal of Sciences, Engineering & I.T. |
| ISSN | 2454-7514 |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Pages | 68-80 |
| Publication Year | 2025 |
| Publication Date | June 01, 2025 |
| DOI URL | https://doiglobal.org/10.2025/NAIRJCSEIT.007 |
Plastic pollution has emerged as a major environmental concern because plastic materials persist for long periods and progressively fragment into smaller particles. Microplastics, generally defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, are now detected in marine, freshwater, and estuarine environments. Their small size increases the probability of ingestion by zooplankton, molluscs, crustaceans, fishes, and other aquatic organisms. Fish are particularly important in microplastic research because they occupy different trophic levels, provide ecological functions, and represent an important food resource for humans. This review examines the occurrence, sources, uptake, and biological effects of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems, with particular emphasis on fish physiology and reproduction. Microplastics may enter fish through direct ingestion, contaminated prey, or exposure through surrounding water. Their biological effects depend on particle size, shape, polymer type, concentration, duration of exposure, and associated chemical contaminants. Experimental studies have reported alterations in feeding, growth, oxidative balance, inflammatory responses, intestinal tissues, metabolism, behaviour, reproductive parameters, and other physiological processes under particular exposure conditions. However, effects observed in laboratory experiments cannot always be directly extrapolated to natural ecosystems because environmental exposure conditions are highly variable. The paper also examines the potential movement of microplastics through aquatic food webs and discusses monitoring, prevention, waste management, wastewater treatment, research gaps, and future conservation priorities. Current evidence demonstrates the need for standardised analytical methods, environmentally realistic experiments, long-term ecological studies, and stronger measures to prevent plastic waste from entering aquatic habitats. From a zoological perspective, microplastic pollution represents an important interdisciplinary field connecting animal physiology, ecology, toxicology, reproductive biology, environmental science, and conservation.
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DOI: 10.2025/NAIRJCSEIT.007
Journal:
North Asian International Research Journal of Sciences, Engineering & I.T.
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