Microplastics in wild fish from North East Atlantic Ocean and its potential for causing neurotoxic effects, lipid oxidative damage, and human health risks associated with ingestion exposure
The Science of The Total Environment2019
855 citations
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Score: 60
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Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Filipa Bessa,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Clara Lopes,
Clara Lopes,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Clara Lopes,
Clara Lopes,
Filipa Bessa,
Filipa Bessa,
Clara Lopes,
Clara Lopes,
Filipa Bessa,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Filipa Bessa,
Filipa Bessa,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Filipa Bessa,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Patrícia Oliveira,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Filipa Bessa,
Clara Lopes,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Filipa Bessa,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Patrícia Oliveira,
Vanessa Otero,
Carlos Vale,
Carlos Vale,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Joana Raimundo,
Filipa Bessa,
Filipa Bessa,
Clara Lopes,
Filipa Bessa,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Clara Lopes,
Clara Lopes,
Filipa Bessa,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Clara Lopes,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Joana Raimundo,
Filipa Bessa,
Clara Lopes,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Miguel Caetano,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Vanessa Otero,
Clara Lopes,
Vanessa Otero,
Vanessa Otero,
Vanessa Otero,
Vanessa Otero,
Vanessa Otero,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Vanessa Otero,
Vanessa Otero,
Patrícia Oliveira,
Miguel Caetano,
Filipa Bessa,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Filipa Bessa,
Filipa Bessa,
Filipa Bessa,
Filipa Bessa,
Clara Lopes,
Clara Lopes,
Joana Raimundo,
Joana Raimundo,
Miguel Caetano,
Miguel Caetano,
Miguel Caetano,
Miguel Caetano,
Miguel Caetano,
Miguel Caetano,
Miguel Caetano,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Filipa Bessa,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Filipa Bessa,
Joana Raimundo,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Carlos Vale,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Filipa Bessa,
Vanessa Otero,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Filipa Bessa,
Vanessa Otero,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Joana Raimundo,
Vanessa Otero,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Joana Raimundo,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Joana Raimundo,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Joana Raimundo,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Bruno Henriques,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Joana Raimundo,
Filipa Bessa,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Filipa Bessa,
Filipa Bessa,
Luís Gabriel A. Barboza,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Joana Raimundo,
Joana Raimundo,
Filipa Bessa,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Lúcia Guilhermino
Carlos Vale,
Vanessa Otero,
Filipa Bessa,
Joana Raimundo,
Filipa Bessa,
Filipa Bessa,
Filipa Bessa,
Miguel Caetano,
Filipa Bessa,
Filipa Bessa,
Filipa Bessa,
Filipa Bessa,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Filipa Bessa,
Filipa Bessa,
Filipa Bessa,
Filipa Bessa,
Miguel Caetano,
Carlos Vale,
Miguel Caetano,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Filipa Bessa,
Carlos Vale,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Filipa Bessa,
Clara Lopes,
Clara Lopes,
Clara Lopes,
Clara Lopes,
Miguel Caetano,
Miguel Caetano,
Miguel Caetano,
Miguel Caetano,
Miguel Caetano,
Lúcia Guilhermino
Summary
Researchers examined microplastic contamination in three commercially important fish species from the North East Atlantic Ocean and found that 49% of the 150 fish analyzed contained microplastics. Fish with microplastics showed significantly higher levels of lipid damage in the brain, gills, and muscle, along with signs of neurotoxicity. Based on the microplastics found in edible fish muscle, the study estimates that human consumers may ingest hundreds of microplastic particles per year from fish consumption alone.
Microplastics (MP) pollution has received increased attention over the last few years. However, while the number of studies documentating the ingestion of microplastics by fish has increased, fewer studies have addressed the toxicological effects derived from the ingestion of these small items in wild conditions. Here, MP contamination and effect biomarkers were investigated in three commercially important fish species from the North East Atlantic Ocean. From the 150 analysed fish (50 per species), 49 % had MP. In fish from the 3 species, MP in the gastrointestinal tract, gills and dorsal muscle were found. Fish with MP had significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher lipid peroxidation levels in the brain, gills and dorsal muscle, and increased brain acetylcholinesterase activity than fish where no MP were found. These results suggest lipid oxidative damage in gills and muscle, and neurotoxicity through lipid oxidative damage and acetylcholinesterase induction in relation to MP and/or MP-associated chemicals exposure. From the 150 fish analysed, 32 % had MP in dorsal muscle, with a total mean (± SD) of 0.054 ± 0.099 MP items/g. Based on this mean and on EFSA recommendation for fish consumption by adults or the general population, human consumers of Dicentrachus labrax, Trachurus trachurus, Scomber colias may intake 842 MP items/year from fish consumption only. Based on the mean of MP in fish muscle and data (EUMOFA, NOAA) of fish consumption per capita in selected European and American countries, the estimated intake of microplastics through fish consumption ranged from 518 to 3078 MP items/year/capita. Considering that fish consumption is only one of the routes of human exposure to microplastics, this study and others in the literature emphasize the need for more research, risk assessment and adoption of measures to minimize human exposure to these particles. Thus, MP pollution and its effects should be further investigated and addressed according to the WHO 'One Health' approach.