Investigating Microplastics Pollution in the skin of some commercial freshwater fish

Haghi, Mahsa; Nesyanpour, Elham; Hedayati, Seyyed Ali Akbar; Keshavarzi, Behnam

Volume 16, Issue 1 (Autmn 2026) J. Aqua. Eco 2026, 16(1): 74-90 | Back to browse issues page

Mendeley

Zotero

RefWorks

Haghi M, Nesyanpour E, Hedayati S A A, Keshavarzi B. Investigating Microplastics Pollution in the skin of some commercial freshwater fish. J. Aqua. Eco 2026; 16 (1) :74-90
URL: http://jae.hormozgan.ac.ir/article-1-1172-en.html

Investigating Microplastics Pollution in the skin of some commercial freshwater fish

Mahsa Haghi ^*

, Elham Nesyanpour

, Seyyed Ali Akbar Hedayati

, Behnam Keshavarzi

Abstract: (24 Views)

The widespread occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in freshwater ecosystems has become a major global environmental concern due to their potential adverse effects on aquatic organisms, ecosystem health, and human well-being. Microplastics, defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, originate primarily from the degradation and fragmentation of larger plastic debris and occur in various forms, including fibers and fragments. The present study investigated the abundance, characteristics, and polymer composition of microplastics in four edible fish species from the Shadegan International Wetland: Carasobarbus luteus, Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi, Leuciscus vorax, and Oreochromis niloticus. Fish samples were randomly collected by local fishermen from five sampling stations in November 2023. Following extraction and isolation procedures, the abundance, morphology, size, color, and polymer types of the microplastics were analyzed. The mean abundance of microplastics per 100 g of fish skin tissue was 11.09 ± 19.2 particles in C. luteus, 4.20 ± 5.2 particles in M. sharpeyi, 6.66 ± 0.75 particles in L. vorax, and 4.36 ± 8.3 particles in O. niloticus. Microplastics were detected in all examined fish species. Fibers represented the dominant microplastic shape, with black-colored particles being the most prevalent. Micro-Raman spectroscopy identified the primary polymer types as polycarbonate, polyamide, and polyurethane. Most detected particles ranged in size from 100 to ≥500 µm. The identified polymers are commonly used in non-packaging applications such as industrial equipment, automotive components, household appliances, and textile products, suggesting that terrestrial and industrial sources may contribute significantly to microplastic contamination in the Shadegan International Wetland. Overall, the findings confirm the widespread presence of microplastics in the skin tissues of edible fish species inhabiting this internationally important wetland ecosystem.

Keywords: Skin tissue, Shadegan International Wetland, Microplastics, Micro-Raman spectroscopy, Edible fish.

Full-Text [PDF 1941 kb] (16 Downloads)

Type of Study: Research | Subject: Special
Published: 2026/05/12