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Microplastic ingestion by Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber colias) in the Canary Islands coast
Summary
Researchers examined 120 Atlantic chub mackerel from the Canary Islands and found that 78.3 percent had microplastics in their digestive tracts. Fibers were the most common type of microplastic found, followed by plastic fragments and paint particles. The study represents the first investigation of microplastic contamination in fish from the Northwest African upwelling system, suggesting that this commercially important species could serve as an indicator for microplastic pollution in the region.
In recent years, due to the increasing concerns about their negative impact on wildlife and possible toxicity to living organisms (including humans), microplastics have become the subject of intense investigations. In the ocean, microplastics can be easily ingested by numerous marine organisms because of their small size (<5 mm). The Northwest African upwelling system is an important fishery area, and the present study is the first one in the region to reveal the presence of microplastic particles in the digestive tract of Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber colias). From the 120 examined fish gastrointestinal tracts, 78.3% contained some type of microplastics, 74.2% contained fibres, 17.5% plastic fragments, and 16.7% paint. More studies are needed on fish, but S. colias is a candidate for being a good indicator of microplastic contamination in the region.