Characteristics and retention of microplastics in the digestive tracts of fish from the Yellow Sea. (June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sun, Xiaoxia; Li, Qingjie; Shi, Yongqiang; Zhao, Yongfang; Zheng, Shan; Liang, Junhua; Liu, Tao; Tian, Ziyang
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 249(2019)
• Page Start: 878
• Page End: 885
• Publication Date: 2019-06
• Subjects: Microplastics -- Fish -- Digestive tract -- The Yellow Sea; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.01.110
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: 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. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: A moderate level of microplastic abundance was found in fish from the Yellow Sea. The dominant MPs in fish from the Yellow Sea were fibers. The chemical compositions of MPs were diverse, with high density plastics dominant. Larger fish tended to retain larger MPs, but showed lower amounts of MP/fish. Fish from areas with heavier human activities showed higher MPs retention.