We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Accumulation of chemical elements and occurrence of microplastics in small pelagic fish from a neritic environment
Summary
Researchers examined chemical element accumulation and microplastic occurrence in small pelagic fish from coastal waters, contributing baseline data on contaminant exposure in mid-trophic level species that are often overlooked in pollution assessments.
The assessment of contaminant exposure in marine organisms often focuses on the most toxic chemical elements from upper trophic level species. Information on mid-trophic level species and particularly on potentially less harmful elements is lacking. Additionally, microplastics have been considered emergent contaminants in aquatic environments which have not been extensively studied in species from mid-trophic levels in food chains. This study aims to contribute to an overall assessment of environmental impacts of such chemicals in a community of small pelagic fish in the North Atlantic. The concentrations of 16 chemical elements, rarely simultaneously quantified (including minerals, trace elements and heavy metals), and the presence of microplastics were analysed in sardines (Sardina pilchardus) and mackerels (Scomber spp. and Trachurus trachurus) sampled along the Portuguese coast. Biochemical stress assessments and stable isotope analyses were also performed. The chemical element concentrations in S. pilchardus, T. trachurus, and Scomber spp. were relatively low and lower than the levels reported for the same species in the North Atlantic and adjacent areas. No clear relationships were found between chemical elements and oxidative damage in fish. However, the concentration of several chemical elements showed differences among species, being related with the species' habitat use, trophic niches, and specific feeding strategies. The presence of plastic pieces in the stomachs of 29% of the sampled fishes is particularly concerning, as these small pelagic fish from mid-trophic levels compose a significant part of the diet of humans and other top predators. This study highlights the importance of multidisciplinary approaches focusing on the individual, including position data, stable isotopes, and oxidative stress biomarkers as complementary tools in contamination assessment of the marine mid-trophic levels in food chains.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Occurrence of microplastics in commercial fish from a natural estuarine environment
Researchers examined the gastrointestinal tracts of commercial fish caught from a natural estuarine environment and found microplastics in a significant proportion of individuals, documenting both occurrence rates and particle characteristics.
The influences of spatial-temporal variability and ecological drivers on microplastic in marine fish in Hong Kong
Researchers found that over 57% of marine fish in Hong Kong waters contained microplastics, with higher abundance in fish from more polluted western waters during the wet season, and that omnivorous fish ingested significantly more microplastics than carnivorous fish regardless of collection location or season.
Microplastic in tissue of naturally exposed fish from a plastic polluted coastal ecosystem- An investigation of the evidence for bioaccumulation
Researchers investigated microplastic ingestion and potential bioaccumulation in naturally exposed Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) from a plastic-polluted coastal ecosystem, examining whether older individuals accumulate higher microplastic concentrations as would be expected if bioaccumulation occurs.
Plastic ingestion by pelagic and demersal fish from the North Sea and Baltic Sea
Researchers examined gastrointestinal tracts of 290 North and Baltic Sea fish and detected plastic in 5.5% of individuals, with pelagic species like herring and mackerel ingesting plastic at three times the rate of bottom-dwelling cod and flounder, and polyethylene making up nearly 40% of identified polymer types.
Effect of biological and environmental factors on microplastic ingestion of commercial fish species
Researchers analyzed microplastic ingestion in commercially important fish species, evaluating how biological and environmental factors influence ingestion rates across 2,222 individual fish. The study assessed gastrointestinal tract contents to determine the extent and patterns of microplastic contamination. The findings suggest that both species-specific biology and environmental conditions play important roles in determining microplastic ingestion levels in commercial fish.