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Kolkata: In a study, researchers have found alarming levels of microplastic (MP) contamination in freshwater mussels (Lamellidens marginalis), highlighting potential threats to both environmental and human health.The joint study was conducted by three academic institutions: Raja NL Khan Women’s College (Autonomous), Midnapore; Aliah University, Kolkata; and the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha. This study, led by Dr. Sujoy Midya, assistant professor of Zoology at Raja NL Khan Women’s College, recently published a research article in the proceedings of the Indian National Science Academy Journal Springer-Nature.A total of 373 specimens of L. marginalis were collected from six markets across Jhargram — specifically from Gopiballavpur, Jhargram Town, Jamda, Nayagram, Lalgarh, and Belpahari for analysis. These markets were selected due to the high local dependency on freshwater mussels as a source of nutrition. Microplastics were detected in 302 samples. The mussels from Jamda exhibited the highest concentrations of microplastics, whereas theNayagram ones had the lowest.”Microplastics can enter human tissues—including the lungs and gastrointestinal tract—potentially triggering oxidative stress, inflammation, genetic damage, and even cell death. The presence of MPs in lung tissues of cancer patients underscores the need for urgent health investigations,” Midya warned.Live mussel specimens were carefully wrapped in aluminium foil, stored in ziplock bags, and transported in cooler boxes to the laboratory. They were frozen at −20°C for microplastic analysis.Microplastics — as plastic particles less than 5 millimetres in size — emerged as a major pollutant in freshwater ecosystems. Visual analysis revealed that fibre-shaped microplastics were the most common, followed by fragments and sheets.