Microplastics Detected in River Organisms
A recent study published in Hydrobiologia reveals the widespread presence of microplastics in freshwater invertebrates across a range of river conditions in Northern Portugal.
Researchers quantified microplastic accumulation in Chironomidae and Oligochaeta along 15 river sections spanning a rural–urban gradient across three North Atlantic river basins. Crucially, microplastics were found in organisms regardless of the ecological status of the river, suggesting that urban land use is not the sole factor influencing microplastic contamination at the local scale.
Microplastics were also detected across different subfamilies and tribes of Chironomidae, representing various functional feeding groups — a finding that highlights the potential for microplastics to circulate more broadly within aquatic food webs.
This study demonstrates that even ecologically well-preserved freshwater ecosystems are not immune to microplastic pollution. The results underscore the urgent need to strengthen research on more effective assessment and mitigation strategies to protect aquatic biodiversity.
🔗 Press Release (PT only)