We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastic contamination in giant tiger prawn and greasyback shrimp from Malaysian waters
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found tiny plastic bits (microplastics) in every single shrimp and prawn sample they tested from Malaysian markets, with the tiny greasyback shrimp containing even more plastic pieces than the larger tiger prawns. Most of these plastic fragments were fibers—likely from things like synthetic clothing or fishing nets—found in the shrimp's digestive tracts, meaning if you eat the whole shrimp (not just the meat), you could be eating plastic too. While this study didn't test health effects directly, it highlights that popular seafood may be a hidden source of microplastic exposure, undersco
Abstract Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous contaminants in the marine environment. The potential pathway through the food web to humans is a general public concern. Commonly consumed marine organisms have never been studied for the presence of MPs as an entry route into the food chain. This study selected Penaeus monodon (tiger prawn) and Metapenaeus ensis (greasyback shrimp) because of their commercial importance, high consumption rates, and consistent availability in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. Samples were collected from major fish markets supplied by both coastal fisheries and aquaculture farms. The gastrointestinal tracts of both species were analyzed under a microscope, and Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier-Transform Infrared (ATR–FTIR) spectroscopy was performed on suspected MPs based on their physical characteristics. All samples contained plastic: 280 ± 91 pieces/kg wet weight for P. monodon and 457 ± 171 pieces/kg for M. ensis . Fibers were the dominant shape of the MPs observed, followed by fragments and pellets; black was also the dominant color. Most of the particles determined by size were within 500 to 1000 μm in dimension. Polyester and polystyrene were the two major types of polymers by the FTIR analysis. This calls for urgent reinforcement in food safety measures accompanied by environmental policy interventions directed towards microplastic contamination in seafood that encapsulates potential health risk avenues to consumers as well as broader ecological impacts.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics in shrimps: a study from the trawling grounds of north eastern part of Arabian Sea
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined three species of shrimp from trawling grounds in the Arabian Sea and found microplastics in every individual tested, with an average of nearly seven particles per shrimp. Fibers were the most common type of microplastic found, and six different plastic polymers were identified in the shrimps' digestive tracts. The findings confirm that microplastic contamination is widespread in commercially important seafood species, raising questions about potential transfer to human consumers.
Assessing microplastic pollution in the gastrointestinal tract of green tiger prawns (Penaeus semisulcatus, De Haan, 1844) caught off the west coast of the Arabian Gulf, Saudi Arabia
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined microplastic contamination in the gastrointestinal tracts of 101 composite green tiger prawn samples from Saudi Arabian waters, finding an average of 2.93 MPs per sample — predominantly PET fibers in the 251–1000 µm range — with smaller shrimp ingesting proportionally more colored fibers and polyamide posing the highest ecological risk.
Microplastic ingestion and retention in penaeid shrimp from the Arabian Sea
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined the digestive tracts of four commercially harvested shrimp species from the Arabian Sea coast of India and found microplastics in all four, including fibers, pellets, spheres, and fragments made of polyethylene, polystyrene, and other common plastics — providing baseline contamination data for an important seafood source.
Microplastics contamination, polymer – associated hazard, and dietary exposure in commercially important crustaceans from the Palk Strait, Southeast coast of India
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found tiny plastic bits, called microplastics, inside shrimp and other crustaceans caught off India's coast. This matters because these are popular seafood items, meaning people eating them may unknowingly be consuming plastic too. The study also identified which plastic types posed greater potential health risks, helping guide future food safety efforts.
Abundance, characteristics and seasonal variation of microplastics in Indian white shrimps (Fenneropenaeus indicus) from coastal waters off Cochin, Kerala, India
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined microplastic contamination and seasonal variation in the commercially important Indian white shrimp from coastal waters off Cochin, India, over 12 months. The study detected microplastics in shrimp tissues, predominantly fibers, with an average of 0.39 particles per shrimp, suggesting that even commercially harvested seafood species carry microplastic contamination.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.