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Evidence of microplastic ingestion by cultured European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)
Summary
Researchers evaluated, for the first time, microplastic presence in farmed European sea bass cultivated in coastal waters of Tenerife, Canary Islands. They found that 65% of the 83 examined fish contained microplastics in their gastrointestinal tracts, demonstrating that cultured fish are also exposed to microplastic contamination, not just wild-caught species.
The presence of microplastics (MPs) in the marine environment is a concerning topic due to the ecotoxicological effects and possible seafood contamination. Data is needed to evaluate human exposure and assess risks, in the context of a healthy and beneficial seafood consumption. While microplastic ingestion by wild fish has been reported since the early 70's, farmed fish are rarely investigated. Here, for the first time the presence of microplastics in fish cultivated in the coastal water of Tenerife (Canary Island, Spain) was evaluated. From 83 examined individuals, 65% displayed microplastics in their gastrointestinal tracts, with averages between 0.6 ± 0.8 (SD) and 2.7 ± 1.85 (SD) particles per fish. The total number of microplastics detected was 119. Fibres (81%) and fragments (12%) were the predominant shapes. FTIR analysis showed that fibres were mostly composed by Cellulose (55%) and Nylon (27%), whereas fragments by PE (25%) and PP (25%).