{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,22]],"date-time":"2026-09-22T08:07:13Z","timestamp":1790064433484,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":95,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,22]],"date-time":"2026-09-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790035200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Toxicol."],"abstract":"<jats:p>\n                    Microplastics are increasingly recognized as pervasive contaminants in remote mountain freshwater ecosystems, yet evidence from high-altitude regions remains limited. This study investigated microplastics occurrence and characteristics in surface water, sediments, and fish from the Braldu-Shigar-Skardu freshwater system in Gilgit-Baltistan, northern Pakistan. Samples were collected from remote headwaters, tributaries, main river channels, and the Satpara Lake-Dam system. Fish originated from wild populations, farming facilities, and local markets to provide a broader assessment of microplastic exposure. Matrix-specific extraction protocols were applied, followed by stereomicroscope sorting and polymer identification by \u00b5FT-IR spectroscopy. Microplastics were detected in nearly all sites and matrices, with concentrations ranging from 1 to 17\u00a0MPs\u00a0L\n                    <jats:sup>-1<\/jats:sup>\n                    in water, 55\u2013537\u00a0MPs\u00a0kg\n                    <jats:sup>-1<\/jats:sup>\n                    in sediments, and 1\u201311\u00a0MPs individual\n                    <jats:sup>-1<\/jats:sup>\n                    in fish gastrointestinal tracts. Notably, highest frequency of microplastics occurrence was measured in farmed individuals (78%\u201383%), suggesting that aquaculture-related practices may represent an additional source of microplastics. Wild fish showed the lowest occurrence (25%), whereas those obtained from local markets revealed intermediate values (62%), indicating variable exposure across different pathways. Surface waters were dominated by small fragments and polypropylene, indicative of recent inputs and origin from fragmentation. Sediments showed a broader size distribution, and greater polymer diversity, consistent with their role as long-term sinks. The highest polymer diversity was highlighted in fish, indicating multiple exposure pathways. Spatial patterns did not show a geographical downstream increase, but rather a patchy distribution shaped by local anthropogenic input, hydrological connectivity, and depositional dynamics. Glacier-fed rivers primarily act as transport corridors, whereas low-energy environments such as Satpara Lake function as sinks promoting microplastics accumulation. Overall, the study provides the first integrated multi-compartment baseline for microplastics in Gilgit-Baltistan and supports future monitoring and management actions for these high altitude critical freshwater resources.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/ftox.2026.1947679","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,22]],"date-time":"2026-09-22T07:49:15Z","timestamp":1790063355000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Microplastics in freshwater environments across the high altitude region of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"8","author":[{"given":"Lucia","family":"Pittura","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Marche Polytechnic University","place":["Ancona, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sofia","family":"Vita","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Marche Polytechnic University","place":["Ancona, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mattia","family":"Resente","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Marche Polytechnic University","place":["Ancona, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Federica","family":"Mongera","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Marche Polytechnic University","place":["Ancona, Italy"]},{"name":"Scuola Universitaria Superiore Pavia","place":["Pavia, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Adnan","family":"Khan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Marche Polytechnic University","place":["Ancona, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maisoor Ahmed","family":"Nafees","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Sciences, Karakoram International University","place":["Gilgit, Pakistan"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Saif Ud","family":"Din","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Sciences, Karakoram International University","place":["Gilgit, Pakistan"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nelofar","family":"Hanif","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Sciences, Karakoram International University","place":["Gilgit, Pakistan"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Giuseppe","family":"d\u2019Errico","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Marche Polytechnic University","place":["Ancona, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alessandro","family":"Nardi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Marche Polytechnic University","place":["Ancona, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Francesco","family":"Regoli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Marche Polytechnic University","place":["Ancona, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Stefania","family":"Gorbi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Marche Polytechnic University","place":["Ancona, Italy"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"414","DOI":"10.1007\/s42995-020-00056-w","article-title":"Environmental perspectives of microplastic pollution in the aquatic environment: a review","volume":"2","author":"Ahmad","year":"2020","journal-title":"Mar. 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