FIRST EVIDENCE OF EXISTENCE OF MICROPLASTICS IN STOMACH OF SOME COMMERCIAL FISHES IN THE LOWER GULF OF THAILAND

Microplastics have turned into a key global environmental issue in the current decade because of their marine ubiquity, bioavailability and capability of carrying toxic chemicals. The study focuses, for the first time, on the existence of plastic debris in the stomach contents of some commercially important marine fishes caught from the lower Gulf of Thailand during August to November of 2017. Size and weight range of the samples were 8.5 to 37.1 cm and 8 to 133 g. Results highlighted the ingestion of plastics in the 66.67% samples (110 out of 165 samples). The plastics ingested were microplastics (79.52%) (<5 mm), mesoplastics (20.48%) (5-25 mm). No macroplastic was found during this study since the study dealt with small fishes only. Transparent color plastics were the most dominant colors found in the stomach of fishes examined. Net fibres were the major types of plastics found during this study. There was no relationship found between size of plastics and different biological features of the investigated fishes. These initial findings signify an imperative phase in exploring ecotoxicological perspectives such as the existence and impact of plastic debris on the food chain; the probable effects related to the transmission of contaminants on human health etc.