MICROPLASTIC CONTAMINATION IN FISH FROM THE LOWER REACHES OF THE NORIN RIVER AND ITS ORGAN-SPECIFIC DISTRIBUTION

Microplastics are widespread anthropogenic pollutants in freshwater ecosystems, and their occurrence in aquatic organisms has become an important environmental research concern. In recent years, studies investigating microplastic pollution in Uzbekistan and Central Asia have reported microplastics in river water, bottom sediments, and freshwater fish. In particular, research has documented microplastic contamination in tributaries of the Syr Darya River, rivers of the Fergana Valley, and the digestive tracts of fish inhabiting rivers within the Syr Darya basin. However, further investigation is needed to characterize microplastic contamination across different anatomical compartments of fish. This study aims to establish a scientific and methodological framework for investigating microplastic contamination in fish from the lower reaches of the Norin River, assessing the distribution of particles among the gills, digestive tract, and muscle tissue, and examining biological and environmental factors associated with their distribution. The planned methodology includes microscopic examination and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for the morphological characterization and polymer identification of suspected microplastic particles. The anticipated findings are expected to provide baseline information on microplastic contamination in fish from the lower Norin River and contribute to future freshwater pollution monitoring.