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Occurrence and ecological risk of microplastics in different mariculture feeds

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Anqi Ge, Cuizhu Sun, Cuizhu Sun, Liuqingqing Liu, Cuizhu Sun, Cuizhu Sun, Liuqingqing Liu, Anqi Ge, Cuizhu Sun, Liuqingqing Liu, Cuizhu Sun, Liuqingqing Liu, Liuqingqing Liu, Cuizhu Sun, Cuizhu Sun, Hao Zheng, Cuizhu Sun, Hao Zheng, Cuizhu Sun, Liuqingqing Liu, Liuqingqing Liu, Liuqingqing Liu, Hao Zheng, Cuizhu Sun, Hao Zheng, Xianxiang Luo, Hao Zheng, Hao Zheng, Hao Zheng, Fengmin Li Fengmin Li Fengmin Li Xianxiang Luo, Jialu Xu, Cuizhu Sun, Fengmin Li Fengmin Li Hao Zheng, Hao Zheng, Hao Zheng, Fengmin Li Xianxiang Luo, Liuqingqing Liu, Hao Zheng, Xianxiang Luo, Hao Zheng, Xianxiang Luo, Cuizhu Sun, Cuizhu Sun, Zixi Yuan, Cuizhu Sun, Cuizhu Sun, Liuqingqing Liu, Fengmin Li Xianxiang Luo, Fengmin Li Fengmin Li Fengmin Li Cuizhu Sun, Cuizhu Sun, Rongyuan Wang, Zixi Yuan, Liuqingqing Liu, Rongyuan Wang, Zixi Yuan, Fengmin Li Hao Zheng, Fengmin Li Liuqingqing Liu, Rongyuan Wang, Liuqingqing Liu, Rongyuan Wang, Rongyuan Wang, Xianxiang Luo, Fengmin Li Fengmin Li Rongyuan Wang, Fengmin Li Rongyuan Wang, Rongyuan Wang, Fengmin Li Hao Zheng, Xianxiang Luo, Liuqingqing Liu, Rongyuan Wang, Fengmin Li Cuizhu Sun, Rongyuan Wang, Cuizhu Sun, Liuqingqing Liu, Hao Zheng, Xianxiang Luo, Hao Zheng, Hao Zheng, Fengmin Li Fengmin Li Fengmin Li Hao Zheng, Fengmin Li Cuizhu Sun, Fengmin Li Lingyun Chen, Fengmin Li Cuizhu Sun, Hao Zheng, Xianxiang Luo, Xianxiang Luo, Fengmin Li Lingyun Chen, Lingyun Chen, Fengmin Li Hao Zheng, Fengmin Li Hao Zheng, Fengmin Li Fengmin Li

Summary

Researchers found microplastics in all 23 types of mariculture (ocean fish-farming) feeds tested, averaging over 5,400 particles per kilogram, with sea cucumber feeds showing the highest contamination. The findings reveal that farmed seafood may be ingesting microplastics not just from the environment but directly from their food supply, raising food safety concerns.

The pollution of microplastics (MPs) in mariculture animals and its risk to human health remain a growing concern. However, although much attention has been paid to the release of MPs in mariculture facilities, few reports can be found on the occurrence of MPs in mariculture feeds consumed by mariculture animals. Therefore, the present study investigated the occurrence patterns of MPs in 23 types of mariculture feeds for different species at different life history stages, and the related ecological risks of these MPs were also assessed. MPs were prevalent with an average abundance of 5491 ± 2712 particles kg −1 in all the mariculture feeds. Notably, the abundance of MPs in Stichopus japonicus (SJ) feeds was the highest, especially in adult stage feeds of SJ (19683 ± 6789 particles kg −1 ). The majority of MPs in mariculture feeds were 20–500 μm in size (81.4%), shaped as fragments (66.2%) and fibers (23.5%), mostly transparent (58.5%) and yellow (18.3%) in color, and the polymer types were dominated by polycaprolactone (PCL), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and cellophane (CP), which together accounted for 61.6%. More importantly, the risk index (H) indicated that MPs in Sebastes schlegelii feeds had high risk ( H : 100–1000), while Litopenaeus vannamei , Penaeus monodon , Stichopus japonicus , and Larimichthys crocea feeds had medium risk ( H : 10–100). These findings offer valuable information about MP contamination in mariculture feeds and establish a theoretical foundation for the safe production and use of mariculture feeds, contributing to the development of a risk assessment framework for MPs in mariculture feeds. •Heavy microplastic (MP) pollution occurred in all the mariculture feeds. •Sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus feeds had the highest abundance of MPs. •Transparent and yellow fragments and fibers with sizes of 20–500 μm were dominant. •Polycaprolactone, polypropylene, polyethylene, and cellophane dominated in feeds. •The ecological risk of MPs in Sebastes schlegelii feeds was the highest.

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