Microplastic existence in two feeding zones of whale shark (Rhincodon typus) in Gulf of California, Mexico

Microplastics in fecal samples of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) and from surface water in the Philippines

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Researchers documented microplastic ingestion by whale sharks in the Philippines through fecal sample analysis and compared it with surface water contamination, providing direct evidence that these filter-feeding megafauna ingest microplastics in a recognized pollution hotspot.

A First Comparison of Microplastics Abundance between Two Whale Shark Feeding Areas of the Gulf of California, Mexico.

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Researchers compared microplastic concentrations in water from two whale shark feeding areas in the Gulf of California, Mexico, finding 0.47-0.63 microplastic particles per cubic meter. Films and fibers dominated the particle types, raising concerns because whale sharks are filter feeders that consume large volumes of surface water.

Presence of Microplastics in the Gastric Cavities of Some Odontocetes Stranded in the Southern Gulf of Mexico

First record of microplastics found in shark mermaid’s purses: a hidden threat to ocean apex predators during embryonic stage

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Scientists found tiny plastic fibers inside shark egg cases (called "mermaid's purses") for the first time, meaning baby sharks are exposed to microplastic pollution before they're even born. This matters beyond sharks: it shows just how deeply microplastics have infiltrated ocean ecosystems, from the water we swim in to the seafood many people eat, raising broader concerns about plastic pollution's reach into the food chain and our own health.

Are whale sharks exposed to persistent organic pollutants and plastic pollution in the Gulf of California (Mexico)? First ecotoxicological investigation using skin biopsies

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Researchers investigated whether whale sharks are exposed to persistent organic pollutants and plastic pollution, finding evidence of both in sampled individuals and highlighting these filter-feeding megafauna as sentinels of ocean contamination.