Thermal analysis and enhanced visual technique for assessment of microplastics in fish from an Urban Harbor, Mediterranean Coast of Egypt

Abstract

Enhanced visual counting technique coupled with combustion analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was applied to assess microplastics (MPs) contamination in fish digestive tracts from Eastern Harbor, Egypt, to provide a simple and economic method for MPs assessment. This was the first study in Egypt to quantify MPs in fish. Plastic particles were detected in all fish samples, represented by seven thermoplastic polymers. The average number of MPs was at its highest level in Siganus rivulatus, Diplodus sargus, and Sardinella aurita (7527, 3593, and 1450MPs fish−1, resp.) and the lowest in Sphyraena viridensis and Atherina boyeri (46 and 28MPs fish−1, respectively). The average weight of MPs as measured by combustion ranged from 302mg kg−1 in S. rivulatus to 2mg kg−1 in Terapon puta.