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Microplastic ingestion by pelagic and demersal fish species from the Eastern Central Atlantic Ocean, off the Coast of Ghana

Marine Pollution Bulletin 2020 107 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 40 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Edem Mahu, Stella Aseye Adika, Stella Aseye Adika, Edem Mahu, Edem Mahu, Edem Mahu, Edem Mahu, Edem Mahu, Edem Mahu, Edem Mahu, Regina Folorunsho, Richard A. Crane, Richard A. Crane, Regina Folorunsho, Christopher Gordon Rob Marchant, Rob Marchant, Richard A. Crane, Edem Mahu, Judith Montford, Judith Montford, Regina Folorunsho, Rob Marchant, Regina Folorunsho, Judith Montford, Christopher Gordon Judith Montford, Edem Mahu, Rob Marchant, Christopher Gordon

Summary

Researchers found microplastics in three pelagic and demersal fish species off Ghana's Atlantic coast, with Sardinella maderensis showing the highest ingestion rate (41%) and industrially produced pellets being the most dominant particle type at 31%. The study confirms widespread microplastic contamination in West African fish stocks and calls for further regional research.

Study Type Environmental

We present data on the occurrence of microplastics in fish from the Guinea current region off Ghana's Coast. Frequency of occurrence of microplastics in the fish species followed the order: Sardinella maderensis (41%) > Dentex angolensis > (33%) > Sardinella aurita (26%). Mean numbers of microplastics ingested were 40.0 ± 3.8, 32.0 ± 2.7 and 25.7 ± 1.6 for S. maderensis, D. angolensis and S. aurita respectively. Industrially produced pellets were the most dominant (31%) microplastic type followed by microbeads (29%), burnt film plastics (22%) and unidentified fragments (9%). Microfibers (2%), threads (2%) and foams (<0.1%) were the least occurring microplastics in the fish species. Condition factors estimated for D. angolensis and S. aurita were >1 and below 1 for S. maderensis. The findings of the study show the common occurrence of microplastics in fish stocks and pave the way for future studies on microplastics in this Region.

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