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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 75(15)

Toxicological consequences of polystyrene microplastics on Cirrhinus mrigala: effects on growth, body composition, nutrient digestibility, haematology and histopathology

Eram Rashid A , Syed Makhdoom Hussain https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5087-3887 A * , Shafaqat Ali B C * , Khalid A. Al-Ghanim D and Pallab K. Sarker E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Fish Nutrition Lab, Department of Zoology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Punjab 38000, Pakistan.

B Department of Environmental Sciences, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Punjab 38000, Pakistan.

C Department of Biological Sciences and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.

D Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.

E Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA.

* Correspondence to: drmakhdoomhussain@gcuf.edu.pk, shfaqataligill@gcuf.edu.pk

Handling Editor: Donald Baird

Marine and Freshwater Research 75, MF24055 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF24055
Submitted: 30 November 2023  Accepted: 13 March 2024  Published: 14 October 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing

Abstract

Context

Microplastics (MPs), whether originating from primary or secondary means, have emerged as a significant global issue nowadays.

Aims

The current research was designed to assess the toxicological consequences of polystyrene MPs (PS-MPs) on the growth, digestibility, body composition, haematology and histopathology of Cirrhinus mrigala fingerlings.

Methods

In this study, six test diets with different MP concentrations were used, including a control group (0% MPs) and groups with 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5% MPs in sunflower meal-based diets. For a 90-day duration, 270 fingerlings (6.54 ± 0.02 g fish−1) were placed in triplicate groups in tanks, with each tank consisting of 15 fingerlings, feeding at a rate equivalent to 5% of their live wet bodyweight.

Key results

The findings revealed a negative correlation between MP concentration and fingerlings performance, encompassing growth, digestibility, body composition, histopathology and hematology.

Conclusions

The results indicate that 2.5% MPs inclusion in C. mrigala adversely affects growth, digestibility, body composition, histopathology and hematology.

Implications

This research highlights the harmful effects of PS-MPs on C. mrigala fingerlings, emphasising urgent global action to address and mitigate aquatic ecosystem threats.

Keywords: carcass composition, Cirrhinus mrigala, growth, haematology, histopathology, microplastic, nutrient digestibility, polystyrene, toxicity.

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