Microplastic Contamination in the Atlantic Horse Mackerel (Trachurus trachurus, Linnaeus 1758) from Selected Markets in Benin City, Nigeria

There is paucity of ecotoxicological data on microplastics (Mps) in marine fish in Nigeria. Hence, the objective of this paper was to evaluate microplastic contamination in the Atlantic Horse Mackerel fish (Trachurus trachurus, Linnaeus 1758) from selected markets in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria using appropriate standard methods. The mean level of Mps in T. trachurus (Total mean length, 31.23 ± 1.82 cm; mean weight, 879 ± 1.38 g) ranged from 0.04 in November at New Benin market to 2.38 in October at Oba market with significant differences (p<0.05) in the mean levels of Mps in fish between months across the markets while the mean plastic load in T. trachurus ranged from 0.005 in November at Oba market to 0.79 in October, also at Oba market with a significant difference (p<0.05) in the mean plastic load in fish between months at Oba market. The classification of plastic based on morphological characteristics revealed the presence of fragments and filaments while the Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR) spectroscope analysis confirmed the presence of Polyethylene (PE) and Polypropylene (PP). The estimated daily intake (EDI) figures (No/Person/Day) for Mps ranged from 0.0002005 at Ekiosa market to 0.0005361 at Oba market. In order to avoid unwholesome health impacts over time, T. trachurus must therefore be consumed with caution as it was contaminated with particles of PE and PP.