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Microplastic fibers in the gut of highly consumed fish species from the southern Caspian Sea
Summary
Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in the guts of three highly consumed fish species from the southern Caspian Sea. They found that fibers were the only shape of microplastics detected, with leaping mullet showing the highest frequency, and that black-colored polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate were the dominant polymer types across all species.
This study assesses the frequency, distribution, characteristics, and chemical composition of microplastics (MPs) in the gut of highly consumed fish species, namely leaping mullet (Chelon saliens), common carp (Cyprinus carpioi), and Caspian kutum (Rutilus caspicus), in the southern Caspian Sea biome. Fibers are found to be the only shape of MPs. Black MPs and polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate polymers are dominant. MP frequency is highest in leaping mullet's gut, while kutum specimens exhibited the lowest MP frequency, reflecting that leaping mullet is a neritic species and thus highly exposed to MP influx in shallow coastal water, while the other species are benthopelagic. The estimated condition index reflected a significant difference between the species, implying that MPs may pose adverse health impacts on leaping mullet and common carp, with no undesirable effect on Caspian kutum. No significant relationship exists between biological parameters and the MP frequency in the fish gut.