Microplastic Pollution and Contamination of Seafood (Including Fish, Sharks, Mussels, Oysters, Shrimps and Seaweeds): A Global Overview

Abstract

This chapter collected, collated, analysed, synthesised, interpreted and documented the last 15 years (2006–2021) of research investigations carried out on microplastic (MP) pollution impacts on seafood organisms including fish, sharks, oysters, mussels, shrimps, lobsters and seaweeds covering 36 locations or countries in the world (the Atlantic Ocean, Australia, the Baltic Sea, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Fiji, France, the Gulf of Mexico, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Mediterranean Sea, the Netherlands, North Pacific Central Gyre, North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, North Sea, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, South Pacific Subtropical Gyre, Spain, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, the UK, the USA and Vanuatu). Elevated/high levels of MP ingestions (compared to other species investigated by researchers) were found in 47 seafood species (39 fish, 1 shark, 3 molluscs, 3 crustaceans and 1 seaweed). MP particles ingested by seafood organisms were highly variable and found related to feeding habits and habitats of the species. MP ingestion rate in seafood organisms varied between 3% and 100%. Higher ingestion (>30%) was reported from the Atlantic Ocean (fish), Australia (fish), Belgium (shrimp), Brazil (fish), Chile (fish), China (fish), China (seaweed), Fiji (fish), France (fish), India (fish), Italy (shark), Japan (fish), Malaysia (fish), North Pacific Central Gyre (fish), Portugal (fish), Scotland (lobster), South Pacific Subtropical Gyre (fish), Spain (fish), Thailand (fish), Turkey (fish), the UK (fish), the UK (shark), the USA (oyster) and Vanuatu (fish). Fibres were the major polymer (by shapes) ingested by seafood organisms (ingestion rate ranged from 33% to 99%). Black, blue, green, orange, purple, red and white were the coloured polymer ingested by various seafood organisms. The higher MP ingestion in seafood organisms may have occurred due to a number of reasons including the following: (1) the study might have been carried out in MP pollution ‘hot spot’ areas, (2) fish and other organisms that accidentally/mistakenly ingested MPs during their normal feeding activity (confusing MPs as prey/plankton/food) or (3) MP ingestion has occurred through trophic transfer from their prey species (as fish foods such as amphipods, copepods, decapods and euphausiids larvae are known to ingest microplastics). Polymers ingested by seafood organisms can adsorb persistent organic pollutants/priority pollutants (heavy metals, PAHs, DDT, PCBs). In addition, plastic additive chemicals (phthalates, bisphenol A, heavy metals, flame retardants) can leach out to the aquatic environment or ingested biota. Therefore, both adsorbed and additive chemicals may be transferred to humans via the consumption of contaminated seafood (fresh fish, whole fish, canned fish and dry fish). The possible human health effects of consuming MP-contaminated food and water include damage of both DNA and cells and inflammation reaction.