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Effects of Microplastics from Feed in Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua)
Summary
This thesis exposed Atlantic cod to five different microplastic types and sizes over 21 days and examined sublethal effects. Results provide evidence that ingested microplastics cause measurable biological harm in cod — an economically important fish species — even at exposures that do not immediately kill the fish.
Microscopic plastic particles, microplastics (MPs), have been found in all the world's oceans, and is ingested by marine organisms.Even though microplastic pollution is of increasing scientific interest, little is known about the effects of ingested MPs.In this thesis, the aim was to analyze the sub-lethal effects of ingested MPs in the Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua).The fish was exposed to five different plastic treatments, each with different sizes: low density polyethylene (LDPE) of 125-500 m, 20-25 m, and 4-6m, polystyrene (PS) of 0.2m, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).The fish went through a 21 days exposure where they were fed fish skretting pellets coated in coconut oil containing MPs.Following the plastic feed treatment, several assays were performed to examine effects in enzyme activity of glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione stransferase (GST), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), as well as concentration of total cellular glutathione (GSH).The analyses showed that there were no effect from any of the microplastic treatments on any of the biomarkers.These results may indicate that MPs have no effect on the examined biomarkers.However, more research is needed to get a better understanding of the risks related to microplastic pollution.V VI Annack for fantastic help with the fish sampling. VII VIII