Baseline Study on Microplastic Contamination in Commercial Fish from the Vellar Estuary, South India

Microplastic (MP) contamination has emerged as a serious worldwide issue. Human activity, commercial operations, and fishing are all concentrated around the coast, resulting in high levels of fish MPs contamination. This preliminary investigation aims to examine MP accumulation in commercial fish caught in the Vellar estuary region. Fish samples were collected from the estuary, and MPs in the gills and gastrointestinal tracts of three commercial fish species were analyzed for quantity, type, shape, and color using standard laboratory techniques. MPs particles were found in 2.55-4.35 items per individual fish, with an overall average of 3.2 particles in the gills and 5.5 in the gastrointestinal tract. The majority of the MPs were blue and green fibers with a diameter of 0.5-1 mm. Fragmented pieces of MPs and fibers were abundant in the gut. These findings demonstrated the extent of MPs contamination in Vellar estuary fish tissues, serving as a baseline for MPs loading in the estuary. This study has significant implications for food safety, highlighting the dangers of MPs in fisheries and aquaculture. It also identifies knowledge gaps in the long-term effects of MPs, suggesting a need for further research in this sector.