Hifza Hayat , Faiza Mubeen , Marriam Fatima , Ishrat Fatima , Sundus Iqbal and Sana Aziz *
Department of Zoology, University of Jhang, Jhang, Pakistan
*Corresponding author: sana.aziz1994@gmail.com
The excessive use of microplastics (MPs) has raised global concerns due to their detrimental effects on aquatic life. The present review has comprehensively covered the current knowledge of MP contamination, their uptake, distribution, impact on organs and biological functions, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification in higher trophic levels. MPs originate from various sources and can accumulate in freshwater fish, which are an important source of food for human beings. Numerous fishes ingest MPs through their mouth, skin, and gills but the primary route is through the gut. Once in the gut, MPs can persist for a long time and then distribute to the entire body via the circulatory system, accumulating in the tissues. The ingestion patterns of MPs are often related to environmental factors (e.g. habitat features, local urbanization) and individual traits (e.g. trophic level, body size). Understanding the interactions between MPs and other environmental stressors is crucial in addressing the increasing plastic pollution and its impact on freshwater ecosystems. The quality of these ingestion studies is questionable due to the lack of standard methods for sampling, extraction, and identification of MPs. New techniques for measuring MPs in freshwater ecosystems and improved waste management are essential to mitigate this issue.