Distribution of microplastics (MPs) and co-occurring persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in open-dried fish: Evidence of environment-mediated pollution impacts on food safety

Microplastic (MP) contamination has emerged as a global food safety concern, highlighting the need to evaluate its co-occurrence with persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in processed seafood products. This study investigated the occurrence and distribution of MPs together with sixteen EPA-priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and fifteen phthalic acid esters (PAEs) in 216 open-dried fish samples collected from nine major fish-curing yards along the Indian coast. MPs were detected in all samples, with abundances ranging from 9 to 127 particles g⁻¹ (mean: 53.21 particles g⁻¹). Fragments were the predominant morphotype, and approximately 60-80% of the detected MPs were < 100 μm. Total PAH concentrations ranged from 776.16 to 2151.49 ng g⁻¹ , while total PAE concentrations ranged from 1066.94 to 2402.98 ng g⁻¹ , demonstrating widespread contamination in open-dried fish. The widespread co-occurrence of MPs, PAHs, and PAEs suggests that open-dried fish may be exposed to multiple environmental and post-harvest contamination pathways, although the exact origin of contamination was not directly investigated in the present study. These findings emphasize the need for improved hygienic processing standards and regulatory guidelines to ensure seafood safety.