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Suspected microplastics in Atlantic horse mackerel fish (Trachurus trachurus) captured in Portugal
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Researchers examined microplastic presence in multiple internal organs of Atlantic horse mackerel caught off the coast of Portugal. The study found suspected microplastics in all organs examined, including gills, gut, kidney, and heart, with the smallest particles found in the heart and blood, highlighting the potential for microplastics to translocate beyond the digestive system.
Microplastics have been found in fish, but most studies have focused on the digestive system without considering additional organs. Herein, the objective was to assess the presence of microplastics in internal organs (gills, guts, kidney, heart) of the Atlantic horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) captured of the coast of Portugal (Northeast Atlantic Ocean). Suspected microplastics were present in all organs, with particles of larger size (i.e., equivalent diameter) found in the gut and those of lower size in the heart and its luminal blood. Suspected microplastics of 1-10 μm were the most abundant (65.4%), more likely to translocate, owing to their minute size, but more difficult to properly characterize. These results highlight the need to expand the analytical work on organs and tissues for assessing microplastics in organisms, but also emphasize the actual need for developing analytical methods that allow for an accurate isolation, identification, and characterization of microplastics in biota.
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Microplastic distribution in different tissues of small pelagic fish of the Northeast Atlantic Ocean
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Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in three commercially important fish species from the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula, finding plastic particles in the gut, gills, and muscle tissue. Horse mackerel had the highest contamination rates, with 92 percent of individuals containing microplastics in their digestive tract and 63 percent in their muscle. Since these fish are widely consumed by people, the presence of microplastics in edible muscle tissue is a direct concern for human dietary exposure.
Microplastics in gastrointestinal tracts of Trachurus trachurus and Scomber colias from the Portuguese Coastal waters
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This study found microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of two commercially important fish species — Atlantic horse mackerel and Atlantic chub mackerel — caught in Portuguese coastal waters, with higher incidence in one species than the other. The results confirm microplastic ingestion is common in commercially harvested fish, raising questions about human dietary exposure through seafood consumption.
Plastic ingestion by Atlantic horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) from central Mediterranean Sea: A potential cause for endocrine disruption
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Researchers examined plastic ingestion by Atlantic horse mackerel caught in the central Mediterranean, finding plastics in a substantial fraction of fish stomachs and identifying chemicals with known endocrine-disrupting properties in the ingested plastic types, raising concerns for both fish health and seafood safety.
Investigation of Microplastic Accumulation in Horse Mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus) Caught in the Black Sea
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Horse mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus) caught from Turkish coastal waters were found to contain microplastics in their gastrointestinal tracts, with fibers and fragments the most common types. The study contributes to baseline data on microplastic contamination in commercially important Mediterranean fish species.
Microplastics in livers of European anchovies ( Engraulis encrasicolus , L.)
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This study examined the livers of European anchovies caught in the wild and found microplastics in a subset of the organs, suggesting that plastic particles can translocate from the gut to internal tissues in commercially important fish. The finding adds to growing evidence that microplastics are not simply excreted but can accumulate in fish organs.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.