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Quantification and characterisation of microplastics ingested by selected juvenile fish species associated with mangroves in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Environmental Pollution 2019 165 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 55 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Trishan Naidoo, Trishan Naidoo, Trishan Naidoo, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Trishan Naidoo, Trishan Naidoo, Trishan Naidoo, Trishan Naidoo, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Trishan Naidoo, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Trishan Naidoo, Richard C. Thompson Sershen Naidoo, Anusha Rajkaran, Anusha Rajkaran, Anusha Rajkaran, Anusha Rajkaran, Sershen Naidoo, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Anusha Rajkaran, Sershen Naidoo, Sershen Naidoo, Sershen Naidoo, Sershen Naidoo, Sershen Naidoo, Sershen Naidoo, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Anusha Rajkaran, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Anusha Rajkaran, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Trishan Naidoo, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Sershen Naidoo, Sershen Naidoo, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson

Summary

Researchers quantified microplastic ingestion in four species of juvenile fish from mangrove habitats along the South African coast. They found that 52% of fish sampled contained microplastics, predominantly rayon and polyester fibers, with an average of 0.79 particles per fish. The study provides evidence that juvenile fish in mangrove nursery habitats are consuming significant quantities of microplastics, which could affect their development during a critical growth stage.

Polymers

PVC nylon

Though the number studies on microplastic ingestion by fish is growing, data on fish species characteristic of the South African coastline are scarce. This study quantified and characterised (physically and chemically) microplastics ingested by four species of juvenile fish (viz. Oreochromis mossambicus [Peters, 1852], Terapon jarbua [Forsskål, 1775], Ambassis dussumieri [Cuvier, 1828] and Mugil sp.), within four mangroves along the east coast of South Africa. Microplastics were isolated from whole fish using a proteinase K digestion method, and then quantified and characterised in terms of shape, chemical nature (plastic type), colour and length. Fibres (68%) and fragments (21%) were the dominant shapes found. Of the 174 fish sampled, 52% contained microplastic particles, with 0.79 ± 1.00 particles per fish. The average number of particles per fish did not differ significantly across species within sites and across sites but was higher than in juvenile fish of other species sampled in oceanic habitats. The main plastic types collected using 10 μm filters and identified with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), were rayon (70.4%), polyester (10.4%), nylon (5.2%) and polyvinylchloride (3.0%). Particle length ranged from 0.1 to 4.8 mm, averaging 0.89 ± 0.77 mm, but irrespective of length, particles were mostly blue in colour. This study provides evidence that juvenile fish inhabiting mangroves are consuming significant quantities of microplastics. Importantly, it should be noted that rayon, though the most abundant plastic type found, is a semi-synthetic fibre made from regenerated cellulose that is commonly reported in studies of this nature. The habitats studied serve as nurseries for numerous fish species; however, more detailed studies are needed to assess whether microplastic ingestion could compromise the health of these fish or whether these effects are dependent on species, feeding habit and/or plastic type.

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