New Delhi

Microplastics accumulating in freshwater fish from the Yamuna could pose long-term health risks ranging from neuro-inflammation and cognitive impairment to cellular damage, doctors said, after a recent study reported widespread contamination in fish from the river.

The remarks came after researchers from the Fish Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, published a peer-reviewed study titled "Environmental Drivers and Bioaccumulation Pathways of Microplastics in Freshwater Fish from the River Yamuna, India" in the international journal "Microplastics''.

The study was conducted over nearly four years under the guidance of Prof Ram Krishan Negi and was led by Sneha Siwach, a PhD scholar and CSIR senior research scholar, along with members of the laboratory, the researchers said.

The researchers analysed 220 fish representing 12 freshwater species collected from four locations across Haryana and Delhi, and found 1,678 microplastic particles.

They reported significantly higher microplastic accumulation in fish collected from the Delhi stretch of the Yamuna than at upstream locations, describing the work as a first-of-its-kind scientific investigation that provides baseline data on microplastic pollution, ecological risks and potential food safety concerns in Indian freshwater ecosystems.

According to the study, the gastrointestinal tract contained the highest concentration of microplastics, followed by the gills and muscle tissues.

Textile-derived fibres accounted for nearly 78 per cent of all recovered particles, while polyethylene and polypropylene were identified as the most common polymer types. The recovered polymer mixture was classified as representing a high ecological hazard.

Dr Sonia Lal Gupta, senior neurologist (headache and stroke specialist) and joint managing director, Metro Group of Hospitals, said the findings raise serious concerns for brain health, particularly among people consuming freshwater fish caught in contaminated stretches of the river.

"The minuscule size of microplastics, particularly artificial fibres, makes it possible for them not only to pass through the alimentary tract but also to permeate the blood-brain barrier and enter brain tissues," Gupta said.

She said microplastics can absorb neurotoxins, heavy metals and endocrine-disrupting chemicals present in polluted river water and transport them into the body.

According to Gupta, such exposure can trigger neuro-inflammation, oxidative stress and neuronal damage affecting both cortical and subcortical regions of the brain. Over time, the accumulation of these toxins may contribute to cognitive impairment, peripheral neuropathies and neurodegenerative diseases.

She added that the predominance of polyethylene and polypropylene particles in the edible portions of fish means people consuming locally caught fish may be exposed to continuous low doses of contaminants capable of affecting neurotransmission and neurodevelopment, calling the issue an important public health concern.

Dr Aditi Kundoo, medical director, Cryoviva Life Sciences, said the increasing burden of environmental contaminants such as microplastics highlights the need to move beyond conventional disease management towards approaches focused on preserving cellular health and supporting tissue repair.

She said mounting scientific evidence links chronic environmental exposure to oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, persistent inflammation and altered cellular signalling, making regenerative healthcare increasingly relevant.

Kundoo said regenerative medicine is based on restoring normal cellular homeostasis and the technologies aimed at preserving healthy biological material and advancing regenerative research are likely to gain importance as the understanding of environmentally induced cellular damage evolves.

She added that while future regenerative applications to address such damage remain an active area of research, integrating environmental health with regenerative medicine could become an important direction for precision and preventive healthcare.

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The researchers said the study provides critical baseline evidence for understanding how microplastics move through freshwater ecosystems and accumulate in fish consumed by humans, while underscoring the need for further research into their ecological and public health implications.