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Differential accumulation of microplastics in the gills and gastrointestinal tract of fish species of commercial and ecological importance in the Colombian Caribbean Sea
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Scientists found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in the guts and gills of virtually every fish they tested from Colombia's Caribbean coast, including species people commonly eat. The plastics, likely from textiles, fishing gear, and packaging, were more abundant during rainy season and varied by fish species and size, suggesting that seafood in this region is widely contaminated with microplastics that could potentially make their way up the food chain to humans who eat fish.
Microplastic (MP) pollution poses a critical threat to marine ecosystems, yet knowledge of organ-specific accumulation in fish from the Colombian Caribbean remains limited. This study presents the first assessment of MPs in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and gills of three fish species collected from the Caribbean Sea (Magdalena, Colombia) during rainy and dry seasons. MPs were detected in all GIT samples and in 96% of gill samples. Total MPs abundance followed the order Euthynnus alletteratus > Pterois volitans > Caranx crysos. Species-specific patterns emerged: E. alletteratus accumulated more MPs in larger individuals, C. crysos showed no size-related trend, and P. volitans exhibited higher loads in smaller individuals. The GIT retained more MPs, mainly fragments, whereas fibers dominated gills. MPs abundance was significantly higher during the rainy season, potentially indicating the influence of hydrological regimes and freshwater–marine connectivity on plastic transport. Polymer composition was diverse, dominated by synthetic–natural blends, polyamide (PA), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), commonly associated with textiles, fishing gear, and packaging. Less frequent polymers, including polypropylene (PP), polyurethane (PU), and polyethylene (PE), indicated multiple sources. These findings demonstrate extensive MP exposure in Colombian Caribbean fish and provide essential baseline information for ecological risk assessment in tropical coastal ecosystems.
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Widespread microplastic ingestion in Colombian Caribbean marine fish: Trophic influence, spatial-temporal trends, and polymer composition
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Researchers examined three commercially important fish species from the Colombian Caribbean and found microplastics in over 82% of individuals across both continental and island waters. Fiber and fragment shapes were the most common types, with higher concentrations found in coastal areas and during the wet season. The findings suggest that microplastic ingestion is widespread among Caribbean fish, with potential implications for seafood consumers in the region.
Microplastics in water and fish of commercial interest: Distribution and relation to ecology in the colombians caribbean region, south america
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Researchers evaluated microplastic contamination in surface waters and the gastrointestinal tracts of commercially important and invasive fish species along the Colombian Caribbean coast and San Andrés Island, examining the relationship between microplastic distribution and species ecology and geography.
Microplastics in water and fish of commercial interest: Distribution and relation to ecology in the colombians caribbean region, south america
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Researchers evaluated microplastic contamination in surface waters and the gastrointestinal tracts of two commercially important fish species and one invasive species along the Caribbean coast of Colombia's Atlantico department and San Andres Island, relating distribution patterns to the ecology and geographic range of each species.
Characterization and quantification of microplastics in marine sediments of the Colombian Caribbean
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Scientists found thousands of tiny plastic pieces, mostly fibers from things like clothing and rope, buried in beach and lagoon sediments along Colombia's Caribbean coast, near two major rivers. This matters because these microplastics can work their way into the food chain, potentially carrying harmful chemicals and heavy metals that end up in the seafood we eat. The study shows microplastic pollution is widespread in coastal ecosystems regardless of season, highlighting how plastic waste keeps accumulating in the environments that feed into our food supply.
Dinámica temporal de los hábitos tróficos e incidencia de microplásticos en bagres (Ariidae) en la bahía de Buenaventura, Pacífico colombiano
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Four species of catfish in Colombia's Buenaventura Bay were found to have ingested microplastics, with rates of 9–13% across species and higher ingestion in adults during the rainy season. The finding that commercially harvested fish in a bay heavily used for artisanal fishing contain microplastics raises direct food safety concerns for the coastal communities that depend on these species as a primary protein source.
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