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Abundance, characteristics and seasonal variation of microplastics in Indian white shrimps (Fenneropenaeus indicus) from coastal waters off Cochin, Kerala, India
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Researchers examined microplastic contamination and seasonal variation in the commercially important Indian white shrimp from coastal waters off Cochin, India, over 12 months. The study detected microplastics in shrimp tissues, predominantly fibers, with an average of 0.39 particles per shrimp, suggesting that even commercially harvested seafood species carry microplastic contamination.
The microplastic contamination of seafood species is increasingly becoming a global concern due to its potential influence on food safety and human health. This study investigated the presence and seasonal variation of microplastics in a commercially important marine shrimp species, Fenneropenaeus indicus, from the coastal waters of Cochin, India. The soft tissues of 330 shrimps were examined over a period of 12 months, from March 2018 to February 2019. A total of 128 microplastics were detected, of which 83% were fibres. An average (mean ± SD) of 0.39 ± 0.6 microplastics/shrimp (0.04 ± 0.07 microplastics/g wet weight) was obtained from the shrimps sampled. Microplastic contamination was significantly higher in July-August (Monsoon season) compared with other months. This study reports microplastic contamination in F. indicus for the first time. Results also suggest that consumption of peeled but undeveined or whole dried white shrimps can be one of the ways of the human uptake of microplastics, especially during the monsoon season.
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