Occurrence of Microplastics in the Gastrointestinal Tracts of Edible Fishes from South Indian Rivers

Microplastics (MPs) in the gastrointestinal (GI) tracts of the five fish species from the Kollidam and Vellar rivers of Tamil Nadu, Southern India were evaluated. A total of 315 MPs were isolated from GI tracts of 23 fishes (Chanos chanos, Chanda nama, Chelon macrolepis, Carangoides malabaricus and Gerrus filamentosus) sampled from both rivers. MPs ranged from 109 to 129 μm (119 ± 79.7) and 181 to 284 μm (122 ± 92.6) in size, with fibres (85.7%) and fragments (14.3%) being the most common ones in the fishes from Kollidam and Vellar river, respectively. The colour pattern of ingested MPs was dominated by blue, transparent, red, yellow and black in collected fishes from both rivers. In this study, MPs were higher in fishes with omnivore feeding habits due to their broad diet habits. Moreover, urban wastes, fishing and agricultural activities are the possible primary sources of MPs in both rivers.