Microplastics and metal burdens in freshwater Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) of a metropolitan reservoir in Central Mexico: Potential threats for human health

In the present study, microplastics (MPs) and metal concentrations were studied in the widely consumed tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fishes (n = 15) collected from a metropolitan reservoir of the Atoyac River basin, Mexico. Nearly 139 fibers were extracted from the gastrointestinal tracts and assessed using optical microscopy to evaluate their physical characteristics. The colour distribution of the fibers was mainly black (40%), blue (19%), red and white (14%). SEM images represented the surface morphology, while the elemental composition of the fibers was studied using EDX spectra. Polymer characterization using μFTIR aided in confirming the fibers as plastics (polyamide, polyester, and synthetic cellulose) and non-plastics (natural cellulose). Henceforth, ∼33% of the fibers, provisionally thought to be plastics, were natural fibers. The total metal concentrations were higher in the liver (259.24 mg kg⁻¹) than the muscle (122.56 mg kg⁻¹) due to diverse metabolic functions in the hepatic tissues. Human health risk assessment in terms of Hazard Index (HI) presented Pb and Zn values above unity in both adults and children, prompting regulatory measures. Statistical tests between MPs and fish biometry did not present any substantial correlations. The present study also affirmed that the presence of MPs and metals in fishes of a highly contaminated region is not only governed by their bioavailabilities, but also on the physiological characteristics of the individual organism.