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Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Environmental Sources Marine & Wildlife Sign in to save

Plastic litter transfer from sediments towards marine trophic webs: A case study on holothurians

Marine Pollution Bulletin 2018 78 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 35 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Andrea Blašković, Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Andrea Blašković, Monia Renzi Andrea Blašković, Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Andrea Blašković, Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Andrea Blašković, Andrea Blašković, Andrea Blašković, Andrea Blašković, Gìovanni Fulvio Russo, Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Andrea Blašković, Andrea Blašković, Andrea Blašković, Andrea Blašković, Andrea Blašković, Andrea Blašković, Andrea Blašković, Andrea Blašković, Andrea Blašković, Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Gìovanni Fulvio Russo, Andrea Blašković, Andrea Blašković, Andrea Blašković, Andrea Blašković, Giulia Bernardi, Giulia Bernardi, Andrea Blašković, Andrea Blašković, Andrea Blašković, Giulia Bernardi, Giulia Bernardi, Andrea Blašković, Andrea Blašković, Giulia Bernardi, Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Andrea Blašković, Gìovanni Fulvio Russo, Gìovanni Fulvio Russo, Gìovanni Fulvio Russo, Gìovanni Fulvio Russo, Monia Renzi Giulia Bernardi, Monia Renzi Andrea Blašković, Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Gìovanni Fulvio Russo, Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Gìovanni Fulvio Russo, Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Gìovanni Fulvio Russo, Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi Monia Renzi

Summary

Sea cucumbers collected from the seafloor around a Sicilian island were found to contain microplastics in their bodies, having ingested them while feeding on sediment. Since sea cucumbers are consumed as food in many cultures, this represents a direct pathway for microplastic exposure in humans.

Study Type Environmental

This study estimates for the very first time plastic litter levels in sea cucumbers (Echinodermata, Holothuroidea) sampled in situ and their intakes from sediments in three different rocky bottom habitats (slides, cliff, banks) settled in Salina Island (Aeolian Archipelago). Macroplastic were never recorded while meso- and microplastics were identified in all sediment (81-438 items/kg d.w.) and animal samples (1.8-22 items/ind.). Plastic intakes by sea cucumbers resulted frequently associated to the size range included within 100-2000 μm. Over than 70% of ingested plastic litter is represented by the size fraction >500 μm. Sediment/animals ratios % are included 2.7 ± 2.0% in studied habitats with a selective intake of fragments occurring in slides. Furthermore, results support the occurrence of selective ingestion of plastic litter by holothurians in natural environments underlining the role of these species in microplastic transfer from abiotic towards biotic compartments of the marine trophic web.

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