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Detection of artificial cellulose microfibers in Boops boops from the northern coasts of Sicily (Central Mediterranean)
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Cellulose microfibers (man-made, not natural) were detected in the stomachs of 63.3% of 30 bogue fish from northern Sicilian coasts, with 1–10 fibers per specimen and fibers dominated by blue and black colors. The findings demonstrate that artificial cellulose fibers from textiles are being ingested by Mediterranean fish and highlight this often-overlooked fiber type in microplastic monitoring.
Pollution deriving from textile wastes, including industrial and household waste, is recently of great interest due to their environmental impacts. Anthropogenic and synthetic fibers are responsible for negative effects on the quality of water and soil, and, also, their presence damages plant and animal health. In this work, the authors revealed the occurrence of man-made cellulose fibers in specimens of Boops boops from the Northern Sicilian coasts. Bogue was chosen as target species as it has been used as an indicator within the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD 2008/56/EC) in order to value the "microplastics status" in the stomach contents. Of the 30 specimens examined, 63.3% of these had ingested fibers items. The number of fibers ranged from 1 to 10 per specimens with an average of 2.7 items/specimen. Fibers length ranged from 0.5 to 30 mm, most of them were black (95%), and a small percentage was red (5%). The ingestion of man-made cellulose fibers, observed for the first time, in Boops boops in the Mediterranean Sea wake-up call and it should attract the attention of the EU for new guidelines where this new type of contaminant is classified harmful as well as plastics.
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High levels of microplastic ingestion by the semipelagic fish bogue Boops boops (L.) around the Balearic Islands
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Researchers found microplastics in 68% of bogue fish stomachs sampled in the Balearic Islands, with only fiber-type microplastics present. The high ingestion rate in this semi-pelagic Mediterranean fish suggests widespread exposure in the water column and raises concerns about plastic transfer through the food web in this sea.
Natural and Regenerated Cellulosic Microfibers Dominate Anthropogenic Particles Ingested by Commercial Fish Species from the Adriatic Sea
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Researchers examined what commercial fish species from the Adriatic Sea are actually swallowing and found that natural and regenerated cellulose microfibers, rather than synthetic plastics, dominated the particles in their digestive tracts. While synthetic microplastics like polyester and nylon were present, they made up only a fraction of the total fibers ingested. The study highlights the importance of distinguishing between synthetic microplastics and natural textile fibers when assessing marine pollution.
Research and characterization of fibrous microplastics and natural microfibers in pelagic and benthic fish species of commercial interest
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Researchers assessed microfiber contamination in European anchovy and red mullet, two commercially important Mediterranean fish species. The study found microfibers in 53% of anchovies and 60% of red mullet, with an average of 6.9 and 9.2 microfibers per individual, respectively, composed of polymers including cellulose, cotton, and polyester. These findings confirm that fibrous microplastics are widespread in both pelagic and deep-sea food webs, with potential implications for seafood consumers.
Detection of fibrous microplastics and natural microfibers in fish species (Engraulis encrasicolus, Mullus barbatus and Merluccius merluccius) for human consumption from the Tyrrhenian sea
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Scientists examined the gut contents of three popular fish species from the Tyrrhenian Sea sold in markets and found microfibers in all of them. While natural and artificial fibers were the most common, synthetic plastic fibers including polyester were also present. Since these are fish people regularly eat, the study highlights seafood as a pathway for human microplastic exposure and calls for better standardized methods to assess the risk.
Microplastic occurrence in the gastrointestinal tract and gill of bioindicator fish species in the northeastern Mediterranean
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Four commercial fish species from the northeastern Mediterranean were examined for microplastic presence in gastrointestinal tracts and gills, with plastics found in all species and fiber being the most common type. The results add to growing evidence that microplastic ingestion is routine for commercially harvested Mediterranean fish.
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