We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics in Sepia officinalis caught on the central Adriatic coast: preliminary results
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined the digestive tracts of 122 common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) caught off the Adriatic coast of Italy and found microplastics in over 80% of them, averaging nearly 7 particles per animal. The most common particles were black fragments and blue fibers. Because cuttlefish are widely consumed seafood, this study raises direct food-safety questions and adds to a growing body of evidence that microplastic contamination extends throughout the marine food web.
Microplastics (μPs) represent an emerging problem for the marine environment given their wide bioavailability for all aquatic organisms, from zooplankton to top predators. This work aimed to evaluate a method of extracting microplastics from the gastrointestinal tract of 122 Sepia officinalis caught from the Adriatic Sea (along Abruzzo region coasts) to measure its quantity in a poorly investigated species. The extraction method used for gastrointestinal content was performed using 10% potassium hydroxide. In 98/122 (80.32-95% CI=73.27-87.37%) wild animals microplastics were detected with a mean concentration of 6.82±5.52 μPs/subject. Among the fragments, as supported by various authors, those of black color were the most represented ones; however, also blue fibers and transparent spheres were isolated. This study, in agreement with previous ones, poses further attention to the wide microplastic diffusion in the marine environment (surface, columns, sediments, and animals). The obtained results provide the basis for future investigations on this public health concern.
More Papers Like This
Microplastic occurrence in the digestive system and health status assessment in a commercially important cephalopod species, Sepia officinalis from the Gulf of Patti (southern Tyrrhenian Sea)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined cuttlefish from the Gulf of Patti in the Mediterranean Sea and found that 69% contained microplastics in their digestive systems, with the animals' habitat and feeding habits influencing how much plastic they ingested. While no direct link was found between microplastic ingestion and the cuttlefish's overall body condition, the study does not rule out more subtle or long-term health effects. The results suggest that cuttlefish could serve as useful indicator species for monitoring microplastic pollution across the Mediterranean.
Microplastics presence in cultured and wild-caught cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers compared microplastic content across multiple digestive compartments in wild and cultured cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis), finding fibers in approximately 90% of samples and demonstrating uptake through seawater exposure rather than diet alone.
First Evidence of Microplastics in the Yolk and Embryos of Common Cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) from the Central Adriatic Sea: Evaluation of Embryo and Hatchling Structural Integrity and Development
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found microplastics in cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) embryos and yolk samples from four Adriatic Sea sites for the first time, with particles smaller than 5 micrometers detected at all locations, though their presence was not associated with measurable impairment of embryo or hatchling development.
Primary risk assessment of microplastic pollution in spineless cuttlefish (Sepiella inermis) from the North-East Bay of Bengal: A tissue-based analysis
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in spineless cuttlefish from the Bay of Bengal, examining tentacle, gut, and nidamental gland tissues. They found microplastics in all tissue types, with gut tissue showing the highest abundance and PVC being the most prevalent polymer identified. The findings raise concerns about human dietary exposure since this species is widely consumed and traded globally as seafood.
Occurrence of microdebris in commercial cephalopod
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found microdebris contamination — including plastic particles and natural fibers — in the digestive tracts of two commercial cephalopod species (squid and cuttlefish) sold at a market in Jakarta, Indonesia. The findings demonstrate that predatory cephalopods can accumulate plastic debris alongside prey, with implications for human microplastic exposure through seafood.
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.