Abstract
Microplastic pollution has emerged to be a crucial environmental concern. Despite the growing body of research on microplastic ingestion in oceans and marine organisms, there is a knowledge gap concerning the effects of microplastic exposure on freshwater ecosystems, which support diverse communities of plants, animals, and microorganisms. The freshwater snail Biomphalaria alexandrina is a valuable model for dissecting the ecological impact of many pollutants in aquatic environments. This study aimed to investigate the impacts of ingesting microplastic particles on B. alexandrina , particularly focusing on polyvinyl chloride (PVC), widely used in plastic applications, piping, electrical, and vehicle equipment, which results in their frequent presence in ecosystems. A combination of behavioral, physiological, biochemical, and histological assessments revealed profound effects of microplastic ingestion by these mollusks. These effects include the accumulation of PVC particles in their intestines, a reduction in feeding behavior, decreases in survival and growth rates, disruptions in biochemical parameters, induction of oxidative stress, and histological damage to their digestive glands. Additionally, our data suggest that the adverse impacts are concentration-dependent, with higher PVC concentrations causing more severe harm. Our findings advance our understanding of the potential consequences of microplastic pollution in freshwater habitats and inform targeted mitigation strategies.