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Evaluating Contaminants in Fish: Plastic Additives and Pesticides in the Context of Food Safety
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This study analysed plastic additives (organophosphate esters) and pesticides in Atlantic Ocean fish sold at Portuguese supermarkets, finding these contaminants present in commercially consumed seafood. The work highlights how chemicals associated with plastic manufacturing can accumulate in fish and potentially reach people through their diet.
The World Health Organization reports that foodborne illnesses cause millions of disease cases globally, resulting in approximately 33 million lost healthy years of life. Over the past decade, global awareness of food safety grew significantly, highlighting various hazards from biological, chemical, and environmental factors in our food supply, including marine sources. Emerging contaminants like pharmaceuticals, personal care products, pesticides, plastic additives, and microplastics are concerning, with some remaining unregulated. Our work focused on analyzing plastic additives and pesticides in fish captured in the Atlantic Ocean and available in local Oporto supermarkets. We used QuEChERS extraction and gas chromatography for the analysis of organophosphate ester compounds in fish samples. Our goal is to ensure safe and healthy seafood, aligning with the principles of the blue economy and sustainable fisheries.
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A Systematic Review of Chromatographic Methods for the Analysis of Plastic Additives in Fisheries and Aquaculture Products
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This systematic review summarizes methods for detecting plastic additives in fish and seafood products. These chemical additives can leach from microplastics and may pose food safety risks, but current testing methods are limited, making it harder to assess the true extent of human dietary exposure.
Bisphenol A and its analogs in muscle and liver of fish from the North East Atlantic Ocean in relation to microplastic contamination. Exposure and risk to human consumers
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Researchers measured levels of bisphenol A and related compounds in the muscle and liver of three fish species from the North East Atlantic Ocean and assessed the relationship with microplastic contamination. Fish containing microplastics had significantly higher concentrations of bisphenols than those without, suggesting microplastics may be a vehicle for chemical contamination. The estimated health risk from consuming these fish exceeded safety thresholds set by the European Food Safety Authority.
Presença e efeitos da poluição plástica em peixes marinhos e de água doce
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This thesis (in Portuguese) investigates plastic contamination in freshwater and marine fish, examining physiological, functional, and ecological effects across multiple levels of biological organization, including food safety implications for human consumption. The author finds that the scientific community has made progress on understanding individual-level effects but that broader ecological impacts and ecosystem-level consequences remain underexplored. The work contributes important evidence that plastic pollution in fish poses intertwined risks for wildlife and the people who eat them.
Assessment of organophosphate flame retardants in Mediterranean Boops boops and their relationship to anthropization levels and microplastic ingestion
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Flame retardant chemicals called organophosphates were detected in the muscle tissue of bogue fish from the Mediterranean, with higher concentrations in fish from more urbanized areas. Microplastics may act as carriers for these chemicals, concentrating them in fish tissue and potentially in people who eat seafood.
Les microplastiques et leurs additifs dans les produits de la pêche : développements méthodologiques et prévalence
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This French doctoral thesis developed analytical methods for detecting microplastics and their chemical additives in seafood and assessed how widespread contamination is across commercially important species. The research contributes directly to evaluating the risk of dietary microplastic exposure for seafood consumers.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.