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Microplastic Distribution Patterns in Fish and Implications for Safe Consumption
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Researchers examined over 1,000 fish from 37 species and found microplastics in the gills and guts of about 36-40% of fish, but none in muscle tissue. Fish from shallower waters and smaller fish had more microplastics. The study recommends that people eat only the muscle portion of fish and choose larger fish from deeper waters to reduce their microplastic intake, estimating that global per capita exposure from fish is about 56,000 particles per year.
Microplastics (MPs) are widely distributed in the ocean and can be ingested by fish. Despite fish being a major source of aquatic protein for humans, no study has yet addressed how to reduce the risk of human exposure to MPs when consuming fish. This study investigated 1,075 fish from 37 species across representative fishing areas, and the presence of MPs in various tissues, such as the gills, guts, and muscles, was analyzed to assess fish food safety comprehensively. MPs (particles >20 μm in size) were detected in 36.28% of the gills and 39.63% of the guts but were not detected in muscle tissues. Compared with those from deeper waters, the fish from upper layers presented greater MP abundances and smaller average sizes. A significant negative correlation was detected between the abundance of MPs in fish and their length and weight. The global per capita MP consumption from captured fish, including all tissues and muscles, is approximately 5.60 × 104 items/year. To minimize dietary exposure to MPs, humans should prioritize consuming only fish muscle and selecting fish from deeper waters and larger sizes whenever possible. Future efforts to optimize fish consumption patterns should involve systematically evaluating the combined risks of MPs and other pollutants, considering both the nutritional value and health benefits of fish consumption and adopting sustainable fishery management approaches.
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MicroplasticDistribution Patterns in Fish and Implicationsfor Safe Consumption
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This study examined microplastic distribution across 1,075 fish from 37 species and identified that MP concentration was highest in the digestive tract and gills, providing practical guidance on which fish parts consumers should avoid or remove to reduce human MP exposure through seafood consumption.
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