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Microplastics in gastric samples from common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) residing in Sarasota Bay FL (USA)
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Microplastics were detected in gastric samples from common bottlenose dolphins residing in Sarasota Bay, Florida, confirming that even marine mammals in a relatively studied coastal area are exposed to plastic debris. The results add to evidence that microplastics are widespread in the marine food web and that dolphins serve as useful sentinels for coastal pollution.
The oceans contain trillions of plastic particles, mostly microplastics (i.e., particles < 5 mm diameter; 92.4% of plastic particles), which have been detected in organisms at all levels of the marine food web. The ubiquity of marine plastic debris has created a monumental environmental pollution problem with extensive public health consequences, as more than 40% of the world’s population lives near the coast and shares coastal resources. For decades, common bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ) have been used as sentinels of marine pollution risks for coastal communities that rely on seafood. Recently, prevalent phthalate exposure was documented in bottlenose dolphins residing in Sarasota Bay, FL, at concentrations exceeding those of human reference populations. While the source of their exposure is uncertain, the types of compounds detected suggest a plastic origin. The objective of this study was to screen for plastic ingestion among free-ranging dolphins in Sarasota Bay using gastric samples collected during catch-and-release health assessments. Gastric samples were collected from seven live bottlenose dolphins in 2019, and suspected microplastic particles were detected in all samples. The number of particles per sample ranged from <10 to >100, and the most common types were transparent films and white foams. Similar to other marine mammal studies, fibers were also present. Given that dolphins are likely exposed to microplastics via contaminated prey, findings from this and additional studies will help to evaluate the potential of contaminated seafood as an additional source of microplastic exposure for humans, as well as help to inform intervention and risk communication needs regarding seafood safety.
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This study reported the first North American case of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of stranded bottlenose dolphins, finding particles in the majority of animals examined. The detection of microplastics in apex marine predators like dolphins indicates that plastic contamination has penetrated far up the marine food chain.
Microplastics in bottlenose dolphins and two key prey fish from Sarasota Bay, FL
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Researchers found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in wild dolphins living in Sarasota Bay, Florida, as well as in the fish they eat — suggesting plastic pollution is moving up the food chain in coastal waters. Since dolphins eat seafood much like we do, and share a similar environment with fish caught for human consumption, this raises questions about whether we're also ingesting microplastics through our own seafood. More research is needed to know exactly what health effects this might have, but the findings are a reminder that plastic waste in our oceans doesn't just disappear — it ends up inside the animals (and potentially the food
Plastic, It’s What’s for Dinner: A Preliminary Comparison of Ingested Particles in Bottlenose Dolphins and Their Prey
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Researchers compared the types of microplastics found in the stomachs of bottlenose dolphins in Sarasota Bay, Florida, with those found in their prey fish. They found that 97% of prey fish contained suspected microplastics, primarily fibers in the gastrointestinal tract, but the particle types did not fully match those found in dolphin samples. The study suggests that contaminated prey may be one pathway for dolphin microplastic exposure, though additional sources likely contribute.
Microplastic Munchies: Exploring Microplastic Trophic Transfer Potential Between Two Key Prey Fish Species and Resident Common Bottlenose Dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ) in Sarasota Bay, Florida
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Scientists studying dolphins in Florida's Sarasota Bay found tiny plastic bits (microplastics) in nearly all the fish these dolphins eat, and estimate the dolphins may swallow more than 10,000 plastic particles a day just from their prey. This matters beyond dolphins: it shows how plastic pollution moves up the food chain from fish to predators, raising questions about how much of this contamination could also be making its way into the seafood people eat.
An Analysis of Suspected Microplastics in the Muscle and Gastrointestinal Tissues of Fish from Sarasota Bay, FL: Exposure and Implications for Apex Predators and Seafood Consumers
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Researchers analyzed muscle and gastrointestinal tissues of 11 fish species from Sarasota Bay, Florida, that are commonly eaten by bottlenose dolphins. They found suspected microplastics in 82% of muscle samples and 97% of gastrointestinal samples, suggesting widespread contamination. The findings raise concerns about microplastic transfer through the food chain to both marine predators and human seafood consumers.
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