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Microplastics contamination of fish from the creeks along the Kenya coast, Western Indian Ocean (WIO)
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Researchers measured microplastic ingestion by five coastal fish species from Kenyan creek waters, finding benthic fish had higher contamination (up to 0.48 particles per gram of tissue) than pelagic species. Gut and gill tissues contained significantly higher concentrations than flesh, and the authors recommend gutting and cleaning gills before consumption to reduce human microplastic exposure from fish.
Microplastics (MPs) are a global threat to marine life, but information available on the extent of pollution along the Kenya Indian ocean coast is absent. Ingestion of MPs by five common pelagic fish from the region was investigated in this study. Fish tissues were digested in 10% potassium Hydroxide (KOH) at 60C for 14 h and the MPs separated by floatation method using supersaturated Sodium Chloride (NaCl) solution. The benthic fish studied (Acanthopagrus berda with a mean of 0.48 0.06 MPs per gram (g -1 ) tissue, Gerres oyena 0.20 0.02, Terapon jarbua 0.20 0.06) had higher MPs contamination compared to the pelagic (Rastrelliger kanagurta 0.054 0.011) and reef fish (Leptoscarus vaigiensis 0.038 0.009) reflecting the influence of habits and habitat on MPs contamination in fish. Fish caught in the second sampling had higher MPs contamination compared to the first and fish from Mida Creek had higher MPs contamination compared to those from Tudor and Port-Reitz probably because they were mainly benthic fish. Gut and gills of all species contained significantly higher concentrations of MPs than the flesh. Thus, we recommend that fish be gutted and thoroughly clean the gills before cooking to reduce MPs contamination. There is need for further research to evaluate the risk posed to humans by the consumption of marine water fish that ingested MPs.
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Microplastics contamination of fish from the Creeks along the Kenya coast, western Indian Ocean (WIO)
AI summary Read the abstract
This study found microplastics in five common food fish species along the Kenya coast of the Indian Ocean, with bottom-dwelling fish showing higher contamination than pelagic and reef fish. The findings indicate plastic pollution has reached Kenyan coastal fisheries, raising food safety concerns for communities that depend on local seafood.
Microplastics Contamination of Fish From The Creeks Along The Kenya Coast, Western Indian Ocean (WIO).
AI summary Read the abstract
This study found microplastics in five common food fish species along the Kenya coast of the Indian Ocean, with bottom-dwelling fish showing higher contamination than pelagic or reef fish. The findings indicate that plastic pollution has reached East African coastal fisheries, with potential implications for food safety among communities that depend on seafood.
Microplastic Distribution Patterns in Fish and Implications for Safe Consumption
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Researchers examined over 1,000 fish from 37 species and found microplastics in the gills and guts of about 36-40% of fish, but none in muscle tissue. Fish from shallower waters and smaller fish had more microplastics. The study recommends that people eat only the muscle portion of fish and choose larger fish from deeper waters to reduce their microplastic intake, estimating that global per capita exposure from fish is about 56,000 particles per year.
Microplastic pollution in the surface waters of creeks along the Kenyan coast, Western Indian Ocean (WIO)
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Microplastic pollution was documented in surface waters of creeks along the Kenyan coast in the Western Indian Ocean, establishing baseline data for a region where microplastic research has been limited and identifying wastewater discharge and fishing activities as likely sources.
Microplastics in the edible and inedible tissues of pelagic fishes sold for human consumption in Kerala, India
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Researchers examined microplastics in both edible and inedible tissues of nine commercially important fish species from Kerala, India. They found that 41% of fish had microplastics in inedible tissues like gills and viscera, while 7% had particles in edible muscle and skin, with filter-feeding fish showing higher contamination than visual predators. The study suggests that human consumption of pelagic fish from this region could result in microplastic exposure, though the quantities found in edible tissues were relatively small.
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