Various types of microplastics, including fibers, pieces, sheets and pearls, were identified under a stereomocycope, and their synthesis were determined by ATRFTIR spectroscopy. This ethical diversity highlights the complexity of micro -plastic pollution in the studied ecosystem. Credit: Ehsan Ali, CCB 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/By/4.0/)
Microplastics is a growing problem worldwide. They disrupt the ecosystem and aid negative effects such as metabolic disorders, neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and developmental toxins in the bodies of different organisms.
This is especially worrying when considering the species that are already in danger, such as the Indus Dolphin (Platinata Minor), which is at risk from the IUCN Red List of threatening species. The Indus Dolphin River is from the Indus River in Pakistan, though there is a small population in India. The Indus River is known as one of the most polluted rivers in the world, which contains a large amount of plastic waste, which is likely to be consumed by the Indus Dolphins and their victims.
A group of scientists raised the opportunity to analyze the gastrointestinal tract of the Indus River Dolphins (GIT), which was trapped between 2019 and 2022 to evaluate the level of microplastics in their bodies. This study was recently published in the journal Plus a. In any previous study, the level of microplastic pollution was not evaluated in the Indus Dolphin River.
The team took the removed microplastics and featured them through shape, size, color and polymer type using FT-IR spectroscopy. He then determined the polymer -based polymer hazard index (H) to evaluate the level of polymer risk.
The five dolphins demonstrated microplastic pollution, an average of 286.4 ± 109.1 microplastic pieces of each individual’s average average than any former microplastic study, which appears in other species of the cystsine. They found that 94.76 % of microplastics were fibers, mostly in blue or transparent color, and mostly between 5 mm and 300 µM size. The polymers found in the polymer was 58.16 % of the polymeter tarfellet (PET).
The plastic found in the study allegedly represents the environmental threat from a medium (level IV) to a medium (level III) for dolphin.
The authors of the study say, “Polymers come out of plastic ropes, fishing nets, plastic bottles and bags, and agricultural run -off, which suggests their gathering.
“Microplastics is transmitted to food chain, and as high hunters, they collect extra items, including basepinols and pheas, which prove that these are the chemicals that damage the endocrine. , And the flexibility of the IRD population.
This study highlights the risk of continuous use of plastic in everything from fresh water to high level hunters and the risk of increasing microplasticism. The authors of the study note the urgent need to reduce plastic pollution in freshwater residences through protection, monitoring and management strategies.
Our author was written for you through Crystal Casal, which has been edited by Gabie Clark, and the facts have been checked and reviewed by Robert Eagen. This article is the result of cautious humanitarian work. We rely on readers like you to keep free science journalism alive. If this reporting is important to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You will get one Ed -free Thanks as thank you.
More information:
Ehsan Ali Et El, the first properties of microplastics in the River Dolphin (Platinata Minor) and Diagnosis of Risk: Protection strategies, implications, Plus a (2025) DOI: 10.1371/Journal.0330253
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Reference: The river is submerged with microplastics (2025, September 25) of the Indus Dolphins.
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