Intrusion of Mercury and Micro Plastics in the Aquatic Food Chain Its Effects on Fish Consumption Risks, Realities, and Policy Implications

Abstract: Aquatic ecosystems are increasingly threatened by pollutants such as mercury and micro plastics, both of which disrupt food web dynamics. Mercury, a persistent and bio accumulative heavy metal, enters aquatic systems through industrial discharge and atmospheric deposition, accumulating in organisms and biomagnifying across trophic levels. Micro plastics, defined as plastic fragments smaller than 5 mm, are ingested by a wide range of aquatic organisms, impairing feeding, growth, and reproduction. Moreover, micro plastics act as vectors for toxic substances, including heavy metals like mercury, facilitating their transfer through the food chain. The combined presence of mercury and micro plastics poses synergistic risks, intensifying toxic effects and threatening biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human health via seafood consumption. This paper explores the pathways, interactions, and consequences of mercury and micro plastics in aquatic food chains, highlighting the urgent need for integrated pollution management and policy interventions to safeguard aquatic resources and food security.