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Spatial variability of microplastics in brown shrimp (Crangon crangon) from the black sea: Abundance, composition, and ecological risk
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Scientists found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in nearly 3 out of 4 brown shrimp tested from the Black Sea, with the highest levels near coastal towns—suggesting human activity is a major source of this pollution. Since shrimp and similar seafood are widely eaten, this matters because it means the plastics we throw away can work their way back into our food, though this study focused on the shrimp themselves rather than directly testing effects on human health.
Seas and oceans have become significant reservoirs for microplastics (MPs), leading to increasing ecological concerns in semi-enclosed marine systems such as the Black Sea. This study aimed to determine the abundance, morphological and polymeric composition, and screening-level ecological risk of MPs ingested by brown shrimp (Crangon crangon) collected from 13 stations along the southern and southeastern coasts of the Black Sea. A total of 112 shrimp individuals were examined, and MPs were extracted after chemical digestion and filtration. The obtained particles were characterized according to size, shape, color, and polymer type using stereomicroscopy and ATR-FTIR analysis. In addition, ecological risk was assessed using pollution and polymer-based indices, including MPCf, PLI, pRi, and PERi. MPs were detected in 81 of the 112 individuals, corresponding to a prevalence of 72%, and a total of 247 particles were recorded, with significant spatial differences between stations. The most common particle shape was fiber, the most frequent polymer was SBR, and the station with the highest MP load was located near a settlement area, suggesting a strong anthropogenic impact. Overall, C. crangon appears to be a useful bioindicator for reflecting local coastal-benthic MP exposure in the southeastern Black Sea; the results suggest that screening-level ecological risk patterns may be influenced not only by MP abundance but also by polymer hazard profiles. These findings provide region-specific key insights that can support future monitoring and management strategies for MP pollution in the Black Sea and other coastal systems under anthropogenic pressure.
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Scientists tested waters and sediments along the southern Black Sea coast and found tiny plastic particles, mostly common plastics like polyethylene (used in bags and packaging), everywhere they looked, both in the water and on the seafloor. This matters because these coastal areas are often sources of seafood, and microplastics that build up in the environment can end up in the fish and shellfish people eat, though this study focused on mapping pollution levels rather than directly measuring health effects. The findings give researchers a baseline to track pollution trends and push for better plastic waste management in the region.
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Field sampling found brown shrimp from the North Sea contained between 51 and hundreds of microparticles in their stomachs, and lab experiments showed the particles distributed throughout the digestive system. The study reveals that brown shrimp — a commercially important species — accumulate substantial microplastics in their natural habitat.
Microplastic Bioaccumulation and Oxidative Stress in Key Species of the Bulgarian Black Sea: Ecosystem Risk Early Warning
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