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Is the shrimp Macrobrachium amazonicum sold in an urban center in the central Brazilian Amazon contaminated with microplastics?
Summary
Researchers analyzed 150 specimens of Amazon River shrimp sold in markets in the Brazilian Amazon and found microplastics in 86% of the samples, totaling 396 suspected particles. The most common contaminants were dark blue fibers ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 micrometers in size, likely originating from the environment and the salt used during processing. The findings point to a potential health concern for consumers of this widely consumed regional food source.
ABSTRACT Growing global concern surrounds microplastics, found in various environments. However, data on microplastics contamination in salted shrimp and associated health risks remain scarce. We analyzed whether salted shrimps sold in markets in a main city in Amazonas state (Brazil), are contaminated with microplastics. We examined 150 specimens of Macrobrachium amazonicum and found 396 potential microplastics in 129 individuals (86%). The number of particles per gram of body mass was highest in the gastrointestinal tract, with 60% of them ranging in size from 1,000 to 5,000 µm, predominantly dark blue fibers (80%). The contamination likely originates from the environment and the salt used during processing in the region where the shrimps are captured. Our findings point to a potential health risk to the many consumers of salted shrimp in the Amazon region.