Abstract
This study was conducted to ascertain the negative effects of dietary low-density polyethylene microplastics (LDPE-MPs) exposure on growth, nutrient digestibility, body composition and gut histology of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Six sunflower meal-based diets (protein 30.95%; fat 8.04%) were prepared; one was the control (0%) and five were incorporated with LDPE-MPs at levels of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10% in sunflower meal-based diets. A total of eighteen experimental tanks, each with 15 fingerlings, were used in triplicates. Fish were fed at the rate of 5% biomass twice a day for 60 days. Results revealed that best values of growth, nutrient digestibility, body composition and gut histology were observed by control diet, while 10% exposure to LDPE-MPs significantly (P < 0.05) reduced weight gain (WG%, 85.04%), specific growth rate (SGR%, 0.68%), and increased FCR (3.92%). The findings showed that higher level of LDPE-MPs (10%) exposure in the diet of O. niloticus negatively affects nutrient digestibility. Furthermore, the results revealed that the higher concentration of LDPE-MPs (10%) had a detrimental impact on crude protein (11.92%) and crude fat (8.04%). A high number of histological lesions were seen in gut of fingerlings exposed to LDPE-MPs. Hence, LDPE-MPs potentially harm the aquatic health.
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Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful to HEC Pakistan for funding Projects No. 20-4892/NRPU/R&D/HEC/14/1145 and 5649/Punjab/NRPU/R&D/HEC/2016 at Department of Zoology, Government College University Faisalabad for provision of facilities for this research. The authors are also grateful to extend their sincere appreciation to the Researchers Supporting Project Number (RSP2024R144), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We also thank Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation for partial funding to support the work.
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by Muhammad Mahmood, Syed Makhdoom Hussain, Pallab K. Sarker, Shafaqat Ali, Muhammad Saleem Arif, Nadia Nazish, Danish Riaz, Nisar Ahmad, Bilal Ahamad Paray, and Adan Naeem. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Muhammad Mahmood and Syed Makhdoom Hussain and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Mahmood, M., Hussain, S.M., Sarker, P.K. et al. Toxicological assessment of dietary exposure of polyethylene microplastics on growth, nutrient digestibility, carcass and gut histology of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings. Ecotoxicology 33, 296–304 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-024-02749-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-024-02749-9