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Exploring microplastic contamination in reef-associated fishes of the Tropical Atlantic
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Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in four coastal reef-associated fish species from the southwestern Tropical Atlantic using alkaline tissue digestion and Laser Direct Infrared polymer identification. All four species contained microplastics, with Alphestes afer most contaminated (80% frequency of occurrence); fibres and films were predominant morphologies and polyethylene was the most abundant polymer.
Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in marine compartments, and their transboundary distribution favours the dispersion and accumulation of particles in ecosystems. This study investigated MP contamination in four coastal fish species (Haemulon squamipinna, Chaetodon ocellatus, Syacium micrurum, and Alphestes afer) from the southwestern Tropical Atlantic. An alkaline treatment was applied to extract MPs from the digestive tracts, and a Laser Direct Infrared (LDIR) system was used to identify polymers. All species analysed were contaminated with MPs, with Alphestes afer being the most contaminated (1.45 ± 1.09 MPs individual; frequency of occurrence 80 %). No significant differences were found in the number and size of detected particles among species. The most common shapes were fibres and films, and polyethylene was the most abundant polymer. This study provides important baseline data on MP contamination in coastal fish species inhabiting complex habitat areas relevant for conserving marine biodiversity.
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Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy was used to assess microplastic presence in the gastrointestinal tracts of 90 mackerel and gilthead sea bream from Al-Hoceima Bay in the Mediterranean, finding microplastics in 33% of fish overall. Occurrence was 26% in mackerel and 40% in sea bream, highlighting significant contamination in a key Mediterranean fishing area.
Quantitative assessment of microplastics in fish from the Gulf of Guinea, Ghana, using LDIR spectroscopy: Implications for marine food safety and health risk evaluation
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Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in 24 marine fish species from coastal Ghana and found plastics in 58% of gastrointestinal tracts and 42% of gill samples. Omnivorous fish had the highest microplastic ingestion rates, and PVC was the most prevalent polymer type identified using advanced laser imaging. The findings raise food safety concerns, as these fish species are commonly consumed by the local population.
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Researchers examined three commercially important fish species from the Colombian Caribbean and found microplastics in over 82% of individuals across both continental and island waters. Fiber and fragment shapes were the most common types, with higher concentrations found in coastal areas and during the wet season. The findings suggest that microplastic ingestion is widespread among Caribbean fish, with potential implications for seafood consumers in the region.
Microplastic contamination in pelagic and coastal fish from Malaysian waters: Tissue-specific distribution, polymer characteristics, and environmental risk indicators
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Researchers quantified microplastics in gill, digestive tract, and muscle tissues of two commercially important Malaysian marine fish species, finding MPs in over 86% of individuals with polyethylene and polypropylene fragments predominating; polymer hazard indices indicated low intrinsic polymer risk, but contamination factors revealed substantial ongoing ingestion pressure in digestive tissues, providing baseline data for regional biomonitoring.
Screening for microplastics in marine fish of Thailand: the accumulation of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract of different foraging preferences
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Researchers investigated microplastic ingestion in 492 marine fish (361 demersal and 131 pelagic) from Thailand, finding no significant difference in uptake between the two foraging types, with polyamide fibers dominating in both groups. FT-IR analysis confirmed polyamide as the most common polymer and red-colored fibers as the most abundant morphology, providing the first such characterization for Thai marine fish.
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