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Environmental Sources
Marine & Wildlife
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Microplastic footprints in sharks and rays: First assessment of microplastic pollution in two cartilaginous fishes, hardnose shark and whitespotted whipray
Marine Pollution Bulletin2024
4 citations
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Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 55
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Marzieh Pasalari,
Marzieh Pasalari,
Hamid Reza Esmaeili,
Hamid Reza Esmaeili,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Marzieh Pasalari,
Marzieh Pasalari,
Rosa Busquets
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Hamid Reza Esmaeili,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Hamid Reza Esmaeili,
Hamid Reza Esmaeili,
Hamid Reza Esmaeili,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Rosa Busquets
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Rosa Busquets
Sajjad Abbasi,
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Hamid Reza Esmaeili,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Hamid Reza Esmaeili,
Hamid Reza Esmaeili,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Sajjad Abbasi,
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Sajjad Abbasi,
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Mohammad Momeni,
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Mohammad Momeni,
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Sajjad Abbasi,
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Summary
Researchers conducted the first assessment of microplastic pollution in two species of cartilaginous fish, the hardnose shark and whitespotted whipray, from the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman. They found microplastics in every tissue examined, including intestines, gills, and skin, with fibers and filaments being the most common forms, pointing to fishing gear and wastewater as likely sources. The study reveals that even top marine predators in these waters are heavily contaminated with microplastics.
Microplastic (MP) pollution is an emerging environmental problem worldwide and has caused widespread concern both in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems due to their potential impacts on the human health, and health of aquatic organisms and the environment. Little is known about the exposure of top marine predators to MP contamination (debris 0.1μm - <5mm, also called MPs). For the first time, MPs have been characterized in carnivore demersal elasmobranch specimens of hardnose shark Carcharhinus macloti, and the whitespotted whipray Maculabatis gerrardi. The specimens were from the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman, and MPs were extracted from their intestines, gills, and skin. MPs were found in every sampled tissue examined: this is higher pollution than previously reported for elasmobranch. The total MPs for these organs were 12.6 MPs/g body mass of sharks, and 17.8 MPs/g in the whiprays on average. The most common MPs found were fibres (59%), and filaments (35%); pointing towards fishing gears and limited wastewater treatment. Fragments, films, and foams were <2.1 %; a less abundant problem. The most abundant MPs sampled were ∼0.5 mm ≤ L< 1 mm (when the limit of detection was 0.1 mm), and blue was the most common MP color hinting intake due to visual confusion. Polycarbonate and nylon were the most abundant polymers in the MPs recovered. The overall findings show that C. macloti and M. gerrardi are vulnerable to plastic and it reflects the critical state of their habitat.