We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
First Report of Microplastic Ingestion and Bioaccumulation in Commercially Valuable European Anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus, Linnaeus, 1758) from the Romanian Black Sea Coast
Summary
Researchers conducted the first assessment of microplastic contamination in European anchovies from the Romanian Black Sea coast. They found that 88% of the fish contained microplastics, averaging about three plastic items per fish, which is the highest abundance reported for this species in the Black Sea. The study highlights growing concerns about microplastic accumulation in commercially important fish species and the potential for human dietary exposure.
Microplastics (<5 mm) are an emerging threat to marine ecosystems and organisms, including fish. Recent studies have ranked the Black Sea as one of the most plastic-polluted European seas. Although there is evidence of microplastic ingestion in various fish species in the Black Sea, data for the Romanian sector are still lacking. This study presents the first assessment of microplastic abundance, color, shape, and size in the gastrointestinal tract and gills of Engraulis encrasicolus (European anchovy) collected from different locations along the Romanian coast (NW Black Sea). Ingested plastics were identified using 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) chemical digestion and analyzed under a stereomicroscope. We observed a high frequency of plastic ingestion, with up to 88% of anchovies containing microplastics (98.5%) and mesoplastics (1.5%), with a mean of 3.03 plastic items/individual, marking the highest reported abundance in the Black Sea. The most common types found were transparent fibers, within the size range of 330 µm–1 mm. Our assessment is the first to demonstrate microplastic contamination in commercial European anchovies from the Romanian coast. Further studies are required to completely understand the extent of microplastic pollution in Black Sea anchovies and its potential impact on both human health and the ecosystem.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Ingestion of microplastics by commercial fish species from the southern Black Sea coast
Three commercial fish species from the Turkish Black Sea coast -- European anchovy, whiting, and red mullet -- were examined for microplastic ingestion, with plastics found in all three species and fibers being the dominant type. The study adds to regional evidence that microplastic contamination is widespread in commercially harvested Black Sea fish.
Microplastics in commercial fish and their habitats in the important fishing ground of the Black Sea: Characteristic, concentration, and risk assessment
Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in six commercial fish species from the Black Sea and found microplastics in all environmental areas studied, including surface water, the water column, sediments, and fish. Fibers were the most common type of microplastic found, and bottom-dwelling fish had higher contamination levels than fish living closer to the surface. Since these are commonly eaten fish species, the findings are relevant to human dietary exposure to microplastics.
The assessment of the bioaccumulation of microplastics in key fish species from the Bulgarian aquatory of the Black Sea
Researchers examined five commercially important fish species from the Bulgarian Black Sea coast and found microplastics in all tissue types studied. The most common particles were polyethylene and PET pellets, with sizes ranging down to 25 micrometers, indicating widespread plastic pollution in this region that could affect both fish populations and the humans who eat them.
Monthly microplastics change in European anchovy's (Engraulis encrasicolus) gastrointestinal tract in the Black Sea
Researchers tracked monthly microplastic contamination in European anchovy from the Black Sea over a full year, finding seasonal variation in plastic ingestion that correlated with changes in feeding behavior and oceanographic conditions.
The Assessment of the Bioaccumulation of Microplastics in Key Fish Species from the Bulgarian Aquatory of the Black Sea
Researchers found microplastics in the soft tissues of five commercially important Black Sea fish species collected off the Bulgarian coast, with polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate as the dominant polymer types. Pellets were the most common particle shape, found across all specimens regardless of species. The results indicate significant microplastic contamination in a major regional seafood source, raising concerns about the potential for plastics to move up the food chain and reach people who consume these fish.