We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastic occurrence in selected aquatic species of the Persian Gulf: No evidence of trophic transfer or effect of diet
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined microplastic contamination in six fish species, one mollusk, and three crustacean species from the Persian Gulf, finding no evidence of trophic transfer of microplastics or dietary effects on contamination levels across species.
Microplastic (MP) contamination in the aquatic ecosystems is a growing global environmental issue that can cause detrimental effects on aquatic species. In this study, MPs in fish (six species, 195 specimens), molluscs (one species, 21 specimens), and crustaceans (three species, 264 specimens) with various biometry, trophic levels, feeding habits, and habitat characteristics were investigated in three habitats: a river, an estuary, and a harbor in the Persian Gulf. Gastrointestinal tracts, gills and skin of targeted samples were chemically digested and the MPs recovered were counted and analyzed with optical microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and SEM/EDX. MPs counted in species of the Bushehr Port (11.4 ± 4.4 MPs/10 g) were significantly higher than in the other locations. The total abundance of MPs ranged from 4.0 ± 2.3 MPs/10 g for Metapenaeus affinis to 28.0 ± 6.4 MPs/10 g for Sepia pharaonis. Importantly, no significant relationships were found between the number of MPs in different inedible tissues, trophic levels, and types of feeding habit. Nevertheless, MPs were more abundant (p < 0.05) in benthos (34.7 MPs/10 g) than benthopelagic (25.9 MPs/10 g) and pelagic species (22.6 MPs/10 g). A total of 96.6 % of the identified MPs were fibers, these were generally ≥1000 μm and were mainly black/grey. Fibers may come from municipal wastewater effluents and fishing activities. The findings of this study present new insights into MP contamination routes in aquatic species.
More Papers Like This
Investigating microplastics bioaccumulation and biomagnification in seafood from the Persian Gulf: a threat to human health?
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated microplastic bioaccumulation and biomagnification in five commercially important seafood species from the Persian Gulf, examining both muscle tissue and gills. They found microplastics present in all species, with evidence suggesting potential trophic transfer through the marine food web. The study estimates that regular consumption of these seafood species could represent a notable pathway for human microplastic exposure in the region.
Occurrence, abundance and characteristics of microplastics in some commercial fish of northern coasts of the Persian Gulf
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastics were found in muscle, liver, gill, and gastrointestinal tissues of 14 commercially fished species from the northern Persian Gulf, with gastrointestinal tissues showing the highest contamination and muscle tissue showing very low levels, suggesting limited translocation from gut to edible flesh in most species.
Assessing the relationship between the abundance of microplastics in sediments, surface waters, and fish in the Iran southern shores
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found microplastic contamination across sediments, surface waters, and four fish species along Iran's Persian Gulf coast, with concentrations of 190 items/kg in sediments and 9.28 items/km in surface waters, though no correlation was observed between MP abundance across the different environmental compartments.
Study of feeding biology and diet-associated microplastic contamination in selected creek fishes of northeastern Arabian Sea: A multi-species approach
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied the feeding biology and diet-associated microplastic contamination of selected fish species, finding that feeding habits directly influence the quantity and type of microplastics ingested. The results demonstrate that trophic position and prey preferences are key predictors of microplastic exposure in wild fish.
Microplastics assessment in Arabian Sea fishes: accumulation, characterization, and method development
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers assessed microplastic accumulation in Arabian Sea fish species, developing optimized digestion protocols and characterizing polymer types to trace contamination sources, finding widespread microplastic ingestion across multiple commercially important fish species.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.