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Microplastic exposure pathways in Scyliorhinus canicula: A comparative study of ingestion and branchial uptake on the Southern Mediterranean shelf
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Scientists found tiny plastic fibers in both the stomachs and gills of small sharks living off the Tunisian coast — meaning these animals aren't just swallowing microplastics in food, they're also breathing them in through their gills. Since these sharks are part of the marine food chain that eventually reaches our plates, this research highlights how widespread plastic pollution has become in the Mediterranean and raises questions about how much of it might be making its way into seafood we eat.
Plastic pollution is rapidly increasing worldwide and poses significant risks to marine organisms. This study investigates microplastics (MPs) exposure pathways in the small-spotted catshark ( Scyliorhinus canicula ) from the Southern Mediterranean shelf (Tunisian coast). MPs were characterized for the first time in both gills and stomachs of demersal individuals, using Laser Direct Infrared (LDIR) and FTIR-ATR spectroscopy for 100% chemical identification. MPs were detected in 60% of specimens, with a total of 95 particles recovered from 20 individuals. Fibres dominated (96.8%), while fragments (3.2%) were observed at a single site. Most particles were <1000 μm (71.6%), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyamide (PA) were the predominant polymers. These findings demonstrate simultaneous trophic and branchial uptake of MPs in S. canicula and reveal significant contamination in this understudied region. This study provides a baseline for the Southern Mediterranean and supports the use of demersal elasmobranchs as bioindicators of marine litter.
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