We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastic contamination in the freshwater shrimp Macrobrachium amazonicum in Itacoatiara, Amazonas, Brazil
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found widespread microplastic contamination in the Amazon freshwater shrimp Macrobrachium amazonicum, detecting 2,597 particles across 600 specimens with significantly higher contamination at urban sampling sites compared to rural areas in Itacoatiara, Brazil.
The present study analyzed the presence of microplastics (MPs) in the shrimp Macrobrachium amazonicum, which is an economically important food that is consumed in several regions of the Brazilian Amazon. A total of 600 specimens of M. amazonicum were captured at two sampling sites (urban and rural area). A total of 2597 MP particles were recorded in the shrimps, with a significant difference between the two sites. The presence of MPs in the body parts also differed significantly. No significant difference was found between MPs abundance and sex of the shrimps. The size of the MPs did not differ significantly between the collection sites and between the body parts. Dark blue fiber-type MPs were the most abundant. A positive correlation was observed between the abundance of MPs and the total weight of shrimps. Raman spectroscopy identified the dark blue fibers as polypropylene and the FTIR technique identified the light blue fragments as nylon. The results indicate that the presence of MPs in the M. amazonicum shrimp is associated with the capture sites near the urban area and is present in the diet of the Amazonian population that regularly consumes this crustacean in traditional dishes.
More Papers Like This
Is the shrimp Macrobrachium amazonicum sold in an urban center in the central Brazilian Amazon contaminated with microplastics?
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Microplastics in a tropical lentic environment: dynamics between sediments and the shrimp Macrobrachium amazonicum
AI summary Read the abstract
A year-long study of a tropical Brazilian reservoir found microplastics in 90.9% of shrimp samples, with concentrations higher in gills and sediment than in stomachs, and positive correlations across all compartments indicating active trophic transfer. These results demonstrate that freshwater crustaceans in tropical lentic systems are consistently exposed to microplastics via both filter-feeding and sediment contact, with implications for food safety in regions where such shrimp are consumed.
Occurrence and Characteristics of Microplastics in Wild and Farmed Shrimps Collected from Cau Hai Lagoon, Central Vietnam
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers measured microplastic occurrence in the gastrointestinal tracts and tissues of four shrimp species (two wild, two farmed) from a Vietnamese lagoon, finding microplastics in all species and providing baseline data on seafood plastic contamination for this region.
Microplastic occurrence in fish species from the Iquitos region in Peru, western Amazonia
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found microplastics in 15 commercial fish species from markets in the Peruvian Amazon, detecting 2,337 particles across 61 specimens — among the first reports of microplastic contamination in fish from the Amazon basin.
Intraspecific and temporal variation in potential microplastic ingestion by Macrobrachium amazonicum (Heller, 1862) in the Funil Hydroelectric reservoir, Minas Gerais, Brazil
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists studying shrimp in a Brazilian reservoir found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in the stomachs of nearly every shrimp they tested, no matter the sex, size, or time of year, though females and larger shrimp had eaten more. This matters because these shrimp are a food source in the region, meaning the plastic they're consuming could work its way up the food chain to the humans who eat them, adding to growing evidence that microplastic pollution is a constant, year-round problem in freshwater ecosystems.
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.