Ingestion of microplastics by commercial fish species from the southern Black Sea coast. (April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Eryaşar, Ahmet Raif; Gedik, Kenan; Mutlu, Tanju
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 177(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-04
• Subjects: Black Sea -- Commercial fish -- Microplastic -- Characterization -- Spatial distribution; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113535
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: Microplastic (MP) contamination is a serious threat to today's marine life. Therefore, this study investigates MP ingestion in three commercial fish species (European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus, whiting Merlangius merlangus, and red mullet Mullus barbatus ) from the Turkish coast of the Black Sea. Ninety-five MPs were detected in all examined fish (371). Fiber forms were detected in the majority of cases based on the MP morphology. Polyethylene and polypropylene were the most dominant polymer type. The mean of ingested MPs was found as 0.15 ± 0.04, 0.28 ± 0.06, 0.40 ± 0.07 in anchovy, whiting and red mullet, respectively. The size of the MPs ranged from 118 μm and 4854 μm. The MP waste was detected in each species, and the highest MP amount was determined in the red mullet, which was significantly higher than European anchovy. The present study's data might be a baseline on the ecological risk assessment of MPs in the fish and future experimental studies on the fish species living in the Black Sea. Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Highlights: The presence of microplastic particles was detected in each of the fish species. MPs were ranged from 118 μm and 4854 μm in samples. PE and PP were the most abundant polymer types. The dominant shape among MPs was fiber. The highest amount of microplastic was determined in the red mullet.