The Occurrence of Microplastics in the Gut Contents of Selected Estuarine Fishes of Southern Kerala, India

Abstract

This extensive study intends to assess the abundances of microplastics in estuarine fishes and to examine the spatial and temporal fluctuations in microplastic pollution in selected estuarine ecosystems, including those of the Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts. The presence of microplastics (those having a diameter of less than 5 mm) in the estuarine environment is a growing cause for alarm on both a national and international scale. To investigate this, between February 2020 and January 2022, we surveyed the seasonal deposition of microplastics in the stomachs of some estuarine fishes in Southern Kerala. Microplastics came in many forms that we were able to positively identify as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and others. Microplastics were extracted from fish samples taken at 16 sites across two years and categorised according to size, colour, type and polymer content. Microfibers of less than 1 mm in length were the most common type of microplastic discovered in fish; they likely originated in domestic washing machines or garbage. Fish in Southern Kerala may be at greater risk of contamination since microplastics are more readily available there than in most other studies across the world. To better understand the risks to fish and create effective control methods to prevent plastic usage and minimise its influence on the aquatic environment, we advocate for more research on microplastic collecting in estuarine environments. Elemental analysis of sediment samples gathered from these sites. The objective of this study is to identify the toxic elements may potentially be transmitted to fish through microplastics and humans eat plastic-tainted fish and are exposed to plastic particles which causes various health problems.