Investigating the Occurrence of Microplastic Contamination in Oreochromis niloticus (Nile Tilapia) Collected from Laguna de Bay
Document Types
Paper Presentation
School Name
De La Salle University Senior High School
Track or Strand
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
Research Advisor (Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial)
Madrazo, Leah, D.
Start Date
23-6-2025 3:30 PM
End Date
23-6-2025 5:00 PM
Zoom Link/ Room Assignment
EKR 405
Abstract/Executive Summary
Microplastics continuously prove to be a problem that compromises the world's environment and food supply. With the growing preference for plastic usage, there is an increasing need to analyze its environmental effects. This study aims to investigate the presence of microplastics in Oreochromis niloticus (Nile Tilapia) found in three selected fish pens surrounding Laguna De Bay. Impressions of the geographic location were made using GIS to gather five to six samples of O. niloticus in the towns of Kalayaan, Biñan, and Los Baños. The key fish parts dissected are the stomach, gills, gastrointestinal tract, liver, and muscle tissues. Gills, stomach, and muscle samples were subjected to 10% KOH and incubated at 40 degrees Celsius for 72 hours, while gastrointestinal samples were incubated at 20% KOH at 40 degrees Celsius for 72 hours. Visual identification of microplastics using a Nikon Eclipse Ei compound microscope was initially done. This yielded twenty-four tissue samples that tested positive for suspected microplastic contamination. Suspected positive samples were further analyzed using the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), with fifteen out of twenty-four samples detected FTIR peaks. Out of the fifteen samples, one was positively identified as microplastic, specifically, polyethylene, from the gastrointestinal tract of a fish collected from Biñan. Other samples contained non-plastic pollutants, indicating environmental contamination. This suggests a possible link to domestic and industrial waste due to its location near residential areas.
Keywords
microplastics; contamination; Oreochromis niloticus; fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; polyethylene
Research Theme (for Paper Presentation and Poster Presentation submissions only)
Sustainability, Environment, and Energy (SEE)
Initial Consent for Publication
yes
Statement of Originality
yes
Investigating the Occurrence of Microplastic Contamination in Oreochromis niloticus (Nile Tilapia) Collected from Laguna de Bay
Microplastics continuously prove to be a problem that compromises the world's environment and food supply. With the growing preference for plastic usage, there is an increasing need to analyze its environmental effects. This study aims to investigate the presence of microplastics in Oreochromis niloticus (Nile Tilapia) found in three selected fish pens surrounding Laguna De Bay. Impressions of the geographic location were made using GIS to gather five to six samples of O. niloticus in the towns of Kalayaan, Biñan, and Los Baños. The key fish parts dissected are the stomach, gills, gastrointestinal tract, liver, and muscle tissues. Gills, stomach, and muscle samples were subjected to 10% KOH and incubated at 40 degrees Celsius for 72 hours, while gastrointestinal samples were incubated at 20% KOH at 40 degrees Celsius for 72 hours. Visual identification of microplastics using a Nikon Eclipse Ei compound microscope was initially done. This yielded twenty-four tissue samples that tested positive for suspected microplastic contamination. Suspected positive samples were further analyzed using the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), with fifteen out of twenty-four samples detected FTIR peaks. Out of the fifteen samples, one was positively identified as microplastic, specifically, polyethylene, from the gastrointestinal tract of a fish collected from Biñan. Other samples contained non-plastic pollutants, indicating environmental contamination. This suggests a possible link to domestic and industrial waste due to its location near residential areas.
https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/conf_shsrescon/2025/paper_see/12
