PREVALENCE AND HUMAN HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT OF MICROPLASTIC CONTAMINATION IN FRESHWATER FISH PRODUCTS OF CHHATTISGARH, INDIA

Abstract

This study evaluates the prevalence and morphological characteristics of Microplastic (MP) contamination across the freshwater aquatic resources of Chhattisgarh, India, and assesses the resulting human health risks. Utilizing a sampling framework of 60 specimens categorized into community ponds, cultivated fish farms, and processed fish products (n=20 each), the research reveals near-ubiquitous contamination. Findings demonstrate a 100% prevalence rate in community ponds and a 90% prevalence in processed products, while private fish farms showed a significantly lower occurrence of 65%. Processed fish products exhibited the highest weight-based contamination (4.85 ± 2.52 MP/g). Physical analysis identified Grade III (0.3mm–0.01mm) particles and fragments as the dominant size and morphological classes, respectively. Human health risk assessments, calculated via per capita consumption rates, indicate that rural populations face higher annual ingestion risks (6,201.6 particles/year) compared to urban populations (3,876 particles/year). These data emphasize the urgent need for standardized monitoring of MPs in freshwater food chains to mitigate long-term toxicological impacts on public health.