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Accumulation of microplastics in fugu (Takifugu bimaculatus): A comparative study between fishing grounds and aquafarms
Summary
Researchers found that over 98.85% of both wild-caught and farm-raised pufferfish (Takifugu bimaculatus) contained microplastics, with cultured fish accumulating nearly twice as many particles as wild individuals, raising concerns about food safety for this prized seafood.
Microplastics (MPs) in fish have attracted attention recently, for their ecological and food safety risks. However, knowledge gaps still exist regarding MPs in fugu, a special poisonous but precious seafood, especially that accumulated in its tissues. Accordingly, this study investigated the characteristics of MPs in cultured Takifugu bimaculatus which raised on three aquafarms and in wild individuals from three fishing grounds. More than 98.85 % of T. bimaculatus were contaminated by MPs and the average MPs abundance in wild fugu (4.25 ± 2.63 items/individual) was lower than that of cultured fugu (7.91 ± 2.16 items/individual). The abundance of MPs in fugu's tissues under different life patterns shows significant differences. There were marked differences in size of MPs presented in various tissues. This study adds to the knowledge on MPs accumulation in the tissues of wild and cultured fugu, providing warnings about its transmission and ecological risks in the food chain.