Histopathological Alterations in Gills, Liver and Kidneys of Goldfish (Carassius auratus) Exposed to Polystyrene Microplastics
Minakshi Kumari
*
Department of Zoology, Lalit Narayan Mithila University, Darbhanga, Bihar, India.
Arti Kumari
Department of Zoology, Lalit Narayan Mithila University, Darbhanga, Bihar, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Microplastics pollution presents a major ecological risk to globe. The present study investigates the histopathological effects of chronic exposure to 1 µm polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) at 1.53 mg/L in goldfish (Carassius auratus) over 28 days. Histopathological analysis showed the considerable alterations in the gills, kidneys, and lever of it. Gills showed the epithelial lifting, fusion of secondary lamellae and lamellar aneurysms. Liver tissues exhibited the hepatocellular vacuolation, sinusoidal congestion, necrosis, and nuclear degeneration. The kidneys displayed tubular degeneration, glomerular shrinkage, haemorrhage, and necrosis. These results highlight the potential risks that microplastics pose to freshwater species by clearly demonstrating PS-MP-induced organ-specific toxicity. In this way the present study highlights the urgent need for regulatory measures to mitigate the microplastic pollution in aquatic environments.
Keywords: Carassius auratus, histopathology, polystyrene microplastics, gills, liver, kidneys