Microplastic ingestion in important commercial fish in the southern Caspian Sea

Abstract

The ubiquitous distribution of microplastics (MPs) across marine habitats has led to an increased investigation of their potential impacts on the marine food chain and consequent human exposure. The two fish species Chelon aurata and Rutilus kutum that account for over 50% of the total catch in the Caspian Sea were assessed relative to the presence of MPs in their digestive system. Samples were collected from 6 stations in the southern Caspian Sea from February to March 2017. MPs were reported to be present in 67.56% of the 111 individuals analyzed, with an average concentration of 2.29 MP/Fish; the majority were fibers (≈50%) and fragments (≈30%). The baseline data have become more relevant since the population in the region has consumed the whole fish. The presence and prevalence of MP in the two commercially important fish in the Caspian Sea warranted a comprehensive assessment in the water column, marine sediments, and fish from the different trophic levels as over 130 rivers drain into the water body.