Microplastics In Fish Research Articles

Microplastics in fishes from the Northern Bay of Bengal.

Microplastics were determined in pink Bombay-duck (Harpadon nehereus), white Bombay-duck (H. translucens) and gold-stripe sardine (Sardinella gibbosa) collected from the Northern Bay of Bengal at Bangladesh. Gastrointestinal tracts of fishes (n = 25 per species) were examined for microplastics following alkali digestion protocol, microscopic observations and chemical analysis by micro-Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscope (μ-FTIR). A total of 443 microplastic items were found in the intestines of H. nehereus, H. translucens and S. gibbosa, averaging in the range of 3.20-8.72 items per species. Among various shapes, colours and types of microplastics, irregular (37-43%), white/transparent (26-68%) and fiber (50-55%) were dominant. The size fraction of microplastics ranging between 1 μm and 5 mm was 68-84 items/kg biomass, and μ-FTIR analysis identified 13 particles of polyethylene terephthalate and 66 particles of polyamide. The study findings raised concern that microplastics in marine fish could be a threat to public health via the food chain.

The presence of microplastics in the digestive tract of commercial fishes off Pantai Indah Kapuk coast, Jakarta, Indonesia

Abstract. Hastuti AR, Lumbanbatu DTF, Wardiatno Y. 2019. The presence of microplastics in the digestive tract of commercial fishes off Pantai Indah Kapuk coast, Jakarta, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 20: 1233-1242. Microplastics in fishes have been reported in many studies due to their threat to marine fishes and human health. But only a few data exist on commercial fish for human consumption in Indonesia. This study revealed the presence of microplastics in the digestive tract of 9 commercial species collected from six sites along the Pantai Indah Kapuk coast. Ingested microplastics were identified using gut content analysis. Microplastic particles were counted and categorized by type, color, and size. 169 of 174 (97.13%) of examined fish had microplastics. A total of 2063 microplastic particles were collected with the average number of particles per individual of 12.21 ± 9.76. The highest number (20.0 ± 8.0 particles individual-1) was found in Sardinella fimbriata and the lowest one (4.9 ± 4.7 particles individual-1) was found in Oreochromis mossambicus. Majority of ingested particles were fibers (89.63%), followed by fragments (6.24%), films (4.13%) and no pellets were observed. In terms of color, the most abundant were transparent particles (79.20%), followed by blue (7.03%), red (3.54%), black (2.86%), green (2.71%), and others which were found in low number. The highest number of fibers by size was <20-100 µm (55.03%), films were 100 - 1000 µm (33.93%), and fragments were <100 µm (25.25%). Microplastics ingested per individual in each species were not correlated to total body length, total body weight, digestive tract length, digestive content weight, mouth height, and mouth length.

Characteristics and retention of microplastics in the digestive tracts of fish from the Yellow Sea

Microplastics (MPs) are a major global issue in the marine environment, and fish inhabiting coastal environments are susceptible to the ingestion of MPs. Knowledge regarding MPs in fish along the coast of China is very limited. In this study, the characteristics and retention of MPs in 19 fish species in the Yellow Sea were systematically studied. MPs were detected in all of the fish species sampled. Overall, 34% (444/1320) of fish retained plastic, and 552 pieces of plastic were removed from these fish, among which 546 pieces (99%) were microplastics (i.e., <5 mm). Three MP types were found: fibers, pellets, and fragments, which accounted for 67%, 22%, and 11% of the total, respectively. MP length ranged from 16 to 4740 μm, with an average of 941 ± 43 μm. The average lengths of the fibers, pellets, and fragments were 1233 ± 57 μm, 263 ± 24 μm, and 503 ± 91 μm, respectively, and MP length was positively correlated with fish length. Fourteen polymers were detected, with organic oxidation polymers (40%) being most abundant, followed by polyethylene (22%) and polyamide (11%). The retention of MPs in fish was affected by sampling areas and fish weight. Fish collected from the area adjacent to the Bohai Sea and the Yangtze River Estuary were found to possess higher levels of MPs than those collected from the center of the Yellow Sea. The average MP/fish for fish with plastic was negatively correlated with fish body weight. The retention of MPs may affect the quality and quantity of fishery resources in the Yellow Sea, especially the commercial fish. It is suggested that future studies be conducted to determine the ingestion rate, retention time, and egestion rate of MPs by fish to enable a rational risk assessment by combining the field results.

Presence and characterization of microplastics in fish of commercial importance from the Biobío region in central Chile

In this study we have identified and characterized microplastic particles (MPs) found in six fish species of commercial importance in central Chile. The fish species belong to different trophic levels and were obtained from the oceanic and coastal habitats. To analyze MPs, the fish gastrointestinal content was extracted, analyzed and characterized using a microscopy equipped with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The MPs found in fish samples were mainly constituted by red microfibers (70–100%) with sizes ranging between 176 and 2842 μm. Polyester, polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were identified as the prevalent polymers detected. The coastal species showed the presence of microfibers with a higher size and abundance (71%) compared to oceanic species (29%), suggesting there is a greater exposure risk. These findings are consistent with results found in other investigations worldwide. However, further research is still needed to accurately establish the potential exposure risk for the public consuming these fish and the impact of MPs in the Chilean fishery activities.

On Some Possible Ramifications of the “Microplastics in Fish” Case

Cases of research misconduct in the ecological and environmental sciences appear to be relatively rare. A controversial paper published in Science in 2016 documenting the effects of microplastics on the feeding and innate behaviours of fish larvae has recently been retracted, with the authors found guilty of scientific misconduct. In addition to the expected fallout, such as individual and institutional reputational damage from a research misconduct finding, this case has two possibly wider-ranging ramifications. Firstly, there may be a presumptive notion that a strong negative effect could be more successfully published than a neutral effect. This presumption would belie the true stringency and rigor of research adopted by workers in the field. Secondly, the case may have a negative impact on the public's perception of and trust in legitimate and good science that addresses critical environmental issues, such as anthropogenic climate change.

Occurrence of microplastics in fishes from two landing sites in Tuticorin, South east coast of India

Microplastics pollution of the marine environment has been reported worldwide. Here, we investigate the occurrence of microplastics in two species of fishes namely Rastrilleger kanagurta and Epinephalus merra bought from Thirespuram and Punnakayal fish landing sites at Tuticorin. Out of the total 40 fish, 12 fish showed the presence of microplastic particulates in the intestine. The particulates included microfibers (80%) in red, black and translucent colors and irregularly shaped microplastic fragments (20%). The microplastics were identified as Polyethylene and Polypropylene by Fourier Transform Infrared Radiation analysis. Though microplastics were detected in the gut of the species, the risk of transfer due to consumption can be safely ruled out as the fish are degutted prior to consumption here. Presence of microplastics in the Tuticorin coast is a matter of concern due to its proximity to the Gulf of Mannar, a sensitive coral reef patch already threatened by marine pollution.

Microplastics in gut contents of coastal freshwater fish from Río de la Plata estuary

The presence of microplastics (MPs) in gut contents of coastal freshwater fish of the Rio de la Plata estuary was studied. Samples were taken in six sites where 87 fish belonging to 11 species and four feeding habits were captured. Presence of MPs was verified in the 100% of fish. The fibres represented the 96% of MPs found. The number of MPs in gut contents was significantly higher close to sewage discharge. There was not found relationship between number of MPs and fish length, weight or feeding habit. The spatial differences in mean number of MPs in fish observed in this study, suggest that environmental availability of MPs could be of great importance to explain the differences found among sampling sites analysed. This work represents the first study about the interaction between MPs and aquatic organisms in this important estuarine ecosystem of South America.

Paper on microplastics in fish is retracted

Last June, C&EN covered a paper in Science showing that polystyrene microplastics from personal care products ingested by perch could “inhibit hatching, stunt growth, and boost predation” of the fish (2016, DOI: 10.1126/science.aad8828). The paper has now been retracted. After Oona Lonnstedt and Peter Eklov of Uppsala University published the study, seven researchers filed a complaint with Uppsala, claiming missing data, statistical design and analysis problems, and discrepancies between how the researchers said they carried out the study and eyewitness accounts of the experiments. A university-convened panel of researchers concluded on Aug. 31 that no evidence of research misconduct existed. At about the same time, Lonnstedt and Eklov reported that a computer containing data from the study had been stolen and there was no backup. The university also asked Sweden’s Central Ethical Review Board to consider the complaint. On April 21, the board decided that the authors’ responses to questions

A high-performance protocol for extraction of microplastics in fish

So far, several classes of digesting solutions have been employed to extract microplastics (MPs) from biological matrices. However, the performance of digesting solutions across different temperatures has never been systematically investigated. In the first phase of the present study, we measured the efficiency of different oxidative agents (NaClO or H2O2), bases (NaOH or KOH), and acids [HCl or HNO3; concentrated and diluted (5%)] in digesting fish tissues at room temperature (RT, 25°C), 40, 50, or 60°C. In the second phase, the treatments that were efficient in digesting the biological materials (>95%) were evaluated for their compatibility with eight major plastic polymers (assessed through recovery rate, Raman spectroscopy analysis, and morphological changes). Among the tested solutions, NaClO, NaOH, and diluted acids did not result in a satisfactory digestion efficiency at any of the temperatures. The H2O2 treatment at 50°C efficiently digested the biological materials, although it decreased the recovery rate of nylon-6 (NY6) and nylon-66 (NY66) and altered the colour of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fragments. Similarly, concentrated HCl and HNO3 treatments at RT fully digested the fish tissues, but also fully dissolved NY6 and NY66, and reduced the recovery rate of most or all of the polymers, respectively. Potassium hydroxide solution fully eliminated the biological matrices at all temperatures. However, at 50 and 60°C, it degraded PET, reduced the recovery rate of PET and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and changed the colour of NY66. According to our results, treating biological materials with a 10% KOH solution and incubating at 40°C was both time and cost-effective, efficient in digesting biological materials, and had no impact on the integrity of the plastic polymers. Furthermore, coupling this treatment with NaI extraction created a promising protocol to isolate MPs from whole fish samples.