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Ingested Microplastics in 18 Local Fish Species from the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea
Summary
Researchers investigated microplastic occurrence and polymer composition in the digestive tracts of 18 coastal fish species from the northwestern Mediterranean Sea, using hydrogen peroxide digestion and FTIR spectrometry with rigorous blank controls, which led to removing 78% of initially suspected particles. Corrected microplastic concentrations ranged from 0.00 to 5.15 items per fish, consistent with other Mediterranean studies, with polymer type variation across species.
Plastic waste and its fragments (microplastics, <5 mm) are a global, persistent, and ubiquitous threat for land and marine ecosystems. We have investigated the occurrence and composition of microplastics within 18 coastal fish species of the northwestern Mediterranean Sea. Digestive tracts were digested using hydrogen peroxide, and residues were observed under a stereo-microscope. Suspected microplastics were analyzed with a Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) spectrometer to confirm its plastic nature and to identify the polymer type. A rigorous blank control and FTIR correction was applied, leading to the removal of 78% of the initially sorted and suspected particles. Corrected concentrations range from 0.00 to 5.15 items per fish, a result within the same range than this has been reported for other coastal species previously investigated in this area. Fibers, made of polyester (PES), polyamide (PA), acrylic (A) and polypropylene (PP), largely dominate the microplastic shapes (91%). A single driving force could not be identified, but several species traits (morphology, feeding, and habitat) may influence the number of ingested microplastics.