Microplastics contamination of wild and farmed Goldspot mullets (Chelon parsia) in Khulna coastal region of Bangladesh

The ecological health of coastal waters is deteriorating globally due to anthropogenic activities, notably plastic pollution. This study examined microplastic (MP) presence in wild and farmed Goldspot mullets ( Chelon parsia ) from Khulna, Bangladesh, between July and October 2023. A total of 50 mullets were sampled: 25 wilds from the Rupsha River and 25 farmed from Khulna markets. All mullets contained MPs, averaging 11.88 particles in the wild and 7.36 in farmed fish. Fibers were the most common MPs in both groups, comprising 55.13% in wild and 53.7% in farmed mullets. Other forms included fragments, films, and foams, though no foam was found in farmed fish. Black fibers dominated in wild mullets (32.14%), while blue was most prevalent in farmed specimens (37.08%). Most MPs measured less than 0.5 mm. FTIR analysis identified polypropylene (PP) as the dominant polymer in both groups, followed by polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS). The study found a strong correlation between MP abundance and fish length and weight (R² values >0.73). These findings confirm significant MP contamination in mullets, highlighting potential risks for human consumption and the need for urgent mitigation strategies.