INVESTIGATES THE OCCURRENCE, TYPES, AND ABUNDANCE OF MICROPLASTICS ACCUMULATED IN FISH PLANILIZA ABU COLLECTED FROM HILLA RIVER, IRAQ

Abstract

Plastic pollution has quickly become one of the most enduring global environmental challenges, and microplastics (<5 mm) manifest as one of the most problematic fractions because they float through aquatic networks and infiltrate food webs. Fish can consume them either intentionally or inadvertently, resulting in the bioaccumulation of microplastics within their bodies and possibly transferring to higher trophic levels such as humans. Fish specimens (Planiliza abu) were obtained between December 2024 and June 2025 from 2 localities in Hilla River, central Iraq (during the wet and dry seasons) as a running aquatic system. 18 individuals returned per site and season were also captured. Three anatomical units were analyzed for MP accumulation: gills, digestive contents and digestive tissues. The samples were digested, stained with Nile Red and examined under a fluorescence microscope to detect microplastic particles. Microplastics of all shapes and sizes were found in all parts of fish samples. Spherical particles prevailed among contents of the digestive tract, whereas fragments, fibres and films were more abundant in the gills. Ankle morphologies were also observed in digestive tract contents. These results reveal the global distribution of microplastics in freshwater fish, increasing our awareness of their effects on humans through higher tropic levels.