Assessment of Ingested Plastic Particles in the Guts of Seventeen Fish Species from Shatt Al-Arab River

Abstract

Plastic materials were evaluated in the guts of fish in Shatt Al Arab river from four stations Al-Najebia, Al-Dakier, Al-Ashar and Al-Bradieyha at the middle section. Seventeen fish species were caught seasonally during the study period from January 2022 to December 2022. Projectina microscope was used to measure the lengths of plastic particles for the first time from Shatt fish, their lengths ranged between 0.04 mm to 1.75mm. Different plastic materials were identified in guts of fishes, and they constituted 54.24% fibers, 35.94% fragments, 7.18%. films and 2.61% pigments. Total Density of plastic materials accumulated on the banks of the four stations 638 particales / m2. Four environmental factors were measured, water temperature, oxygen concentration, water turbidity, and total suspended solid ranged 26-33C°;5-6.9 mg/l;1-45 NTU;0.001-0.006mg/l.