Investigating a probable relationship between microplastics and potentially toxic elements in fish muscles from northeast of Persian Gulf

Although weekly consumption of fish is recommended, the presence of contaminants in seafood has raised many concerns regarding the benefits of fish intake. In the present study microplastics (MPs) and metals' concentration in muscles of both benthic and pelagic fish species from northeast of Persian Gulf were investigated and the risk/benefit of their consumption was assessed. The results demonstrated that MPs and Hg in all species and Se in benthic species increase with size, while relationship between other metals, and fish size is not consistent. Consumption of a meal ration of 300 and < 100 g/week for adults and children, respectively, is recommended since it would provide the required essential elements with no human health risk. On the other hand, the estimated intake of MPs from fish muscles revealed that the mean intake of MPs for P. indicus, E. coioides, A. djedaba, and S. jello consumption is 555, 240, 233, and 169 items/300 g-week, respectively. Moreover, the relationship between MPs and metals in fish muscles were positive for A. djedaba, and negative for E. coioides. Considering the chemical toxicity of MPs and metals, and their good linear relationships in some species, consumption of high doses of the studied fish may pose a health threat to the consumers.