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Shape Characterization and Organ-Specific Distribution of Microplastics in Indian Squid (Uroteuthis duvaucelii) from Dumaguete City Public Market
Summary
Researchers checked squid sold at a Philippine market and found tiny plastic particles—mostly fragments and fibers—in every single squid tested, hiding in both their gills and stomachs. This matters because squid is a popular seafood, and eating it may mean unknowingly consuming these plastic bits too; while scientists still need more research to confirm exactly what these particles are made of and how risky they are, this study adds to growing evidence that plastic pollution is working its way into our food.
Microplastic contamination in marine food resources has emerged as an increasing environmental and food safety concern; however, data on organ-specific microplastic distribution in commercially sold cephalopods in the Philippines remain limited. This study investigated the occurrence, morphology, and organ-specific distribution of suspected microplastics in Indian squid (Uroteuthis duvaucelii) sold in the Dumaguete City Public Market. Using a quantitative descriptive-analytical design, fifteen squid specimens were collected from three market stalls through convenience sampling. Gill and stomach tissues were dissected, chemically digested using 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH), and examined under stereomicroscopy for microplastic identification and morphological classification. A total of 489 suspected microplastic particles were detected across all sampled squid, indicating contamination in 100% of specimens. Of these, 278 particles were recovered from stomach tissues and 211 from gill tissues. Four microplastic morphologies were identified: fragment, fiber, film, and bead. Fragment-shaped particles were the most abundant, comprising 318 particles (65.03%), followed by fibers with 152 particles (31.08%), films with 16 particles (3.27%), and beads with 3 particles (0.61%). Fisher’s Exact Test revealed a statistically significant association between microplastic morphology and organ location (p = 0.005), indicating that the distribution of microplastic shapes differed between gill and stomach tissues. These findings suggest that Indian squid sold in Dumaguete City may serve as a potential vector of dietary microplastic exposure and provide baseline evidence of microplastic contamination in a commercially important cephalopod species in the Philippines. Continued monitoring using polymer-confirmatory analytical techniques is recommended to strengthen future assessments of seafood contamination and associated food safety implications.