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First account of plastic pollution impacting freshwater fishes in the Amazon: Ingestion of plastic debris by piranhas and other serrasalmids with diverse feeding habits
Abstract and Figures
Reported here is the first evidence of plastic ingestion by freshwater fishes in the Amazon. Plastic bags, bottles, fishing gear, and other products are entering Amazonian water bodies and degrade into meso- and micro-plastic particles that may be ingested, either directly or indirectly via food chains, by fishes. Examination of stomach contents from 172 specimens of 16 serrasalmid species from lower Xingu River Basin revealed consumption of plastic particles by fishes in each of three trophic guilds (herbivores, omnivores, carnivores). Overall, about one quarter of specimens and 80% of species analyzed had ingested plastic particles ranging from 1–15 mm in length. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated 12 polymer types, including 27% identified as polyethylene, 13% polyvinyl chloride, 13% polyamide, 13% polypropylene, 7% poly(methyl methacrylate), 7% rayon, 7% polyethylene terephtalate, and 13% a blend of polyamide and polyethylene terephtalate. Dimensions of ingested plastic particles varied among trophic guilds, even though the frequency and mass of ingested particles were not significantly different among fishes with different feeding habits.
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... Considering the environmental problems arising from the inadequate disposal of solid waste, especially plastics in the aquatic environment, several studies have reported contamination by MPs in aquatic organisms, such as waterfowl (Carlin et al., 2020;Lourenço et al., 2017;Reynolds & Ryan, 2018), turtles (Eastman et al., 2020;Matiddi et al., 2017), zooplankton (Absher et al., 2019;Amin et al., 2020;Kosore et al., 2018;Zheng et al., 2020), and fish (Adika et al., 2020;Maaghloud et al., 2020;Santillo et al., 2017;Zhang et al., 2020). The occurrence of MPs has also been reported in Amazon River sediments (Gerolin et al., 2020) and the ingestion of these contaminants by 13 fish species from the Amazon region of the Iriri River, close to the Xingú River (Andrade et al., 2019). Another study recently carried out in the Amazon, at the base of the Guamá River, determined that 98% of the analyzed fish were contaminated by MPs (Ribeiro-Brasil et al., 2020). ...
... The mean abundance of MPs/specimen recorded in the present study was comparatively in the range of those reported in shrimps in other areas (Table 3). The presence of MPs in the M. amazonicum proved that this continental species is not free from MP contamination and corroborates other recent studies (Andrade et al., 2019;Pegado et al., 2018;Ribeiro-Brasil et al., 2020) on the occurrence of MPs in fish in the Amazon region. ...
... According to Lebreton et al. (2017), the Amazon River contributed 60,000 tons of plastic waste to the ocean, in addition to the presence of these pollutants in the river sediment (Gerolin et al., 2020). The presence of plastic waste has also been recorded in other aquatic organisms in the Amazon region (Andrade et al., 2019;Pegado et al., 2018). The abundance of MPs in the present study may be related to the location Keshavarzifard et al., 2021), because collection of these shrimps in the Jauary neighborhood occurred in an urbanized location ( Fig. 1) with high disposal rates and concentration of solid plastic waste. ...
The present study analyzed the presence of microplastics (MPs) in the shrimp Macrobrachium amazonicum, which is an economically important food that is consumed in several regions of the Brazilian Amazon. A total of 600 specimens of M. amazonicum were captured at two sampling sites (urban and rural area). A total of 2597 MP particles were recorded in the shrimps, with a significant difference between the two sites. The presence of MPs in the body parts also differed significantly. No significant difference was found between MPs abundance and sex of the shrimps. The size of the MPs did not differ significantly between the collection sites and between the body parts. Dark blue fiber-type MPs were the most abundant. A positive correlation was observed between the abundance of MPs and the total weight of shrimps. Raman spectroscopy identified the dark blue fibers as polypropylene and the FTIR technique identified the light blue fragments as nylon. The results indicate that the presence of MPs in the M. amazonicum shrimp is associated with the capture sites near the urban area and is present in the diet of the Amazonian population that regularly consumes this crustacean in traditional dishes.
... Moreover, ichthyoplanktonic studies can help detect the influence of climatic events and environmental impacts at local and regional levels on the structure and early life history of species (Bonecker et al., 2019;Cajado et al., 2022;Oliveira et al., 2022). Because many Amazonian rivers have become vulnerable to anthropic pressures, the impacts of these actions have been directly observed on fish communities, which show a decrease in their species richness, functional diversity and increased ingestion of plastic waste (Arantes et al., 2018;Andrade et al., 2019;Ribeiro-Brasil et al., 2020;Keppeler et al., 2022). In the latter case, many studies have been dedicated to investigating the consequences of the interaction of plastic waste on fish communities at different stages of the life cycle (Lima et al., 2015;Lima et al., 2016;Steer et al., 2017;Pegado et al., 2018;Andrade et al., 2019;Ribeiro-Brasil et al., 2020). ...
... Because many Amazonian rivers have become vulnerable to anthropic pressures, the impacts of these actions have been directly observed on fish communities, which show a decrease in their species richness, functional diversity and increased ingestion of plastic waste (Arantes et al., 2018;Andrade et al., 2019;Ribeiro-Brasil et al., 2020;Keppeler et al., 2022). In the latter case, many studies have been dedicated to investigating the consequences of the interaction of plastic waste on fish communities at different stages of the life cycle (Lima et al., 2015;Lima et al., 2016;Steer et al., 2017;Pegado et al., 2018;Andrade et al., 2019;Ribeiro-Brasil et al., 2020). ...
... Plastic waste is retained in aquatic vegetation in riverside regions or even adrift for long kilometers undergoing a degradation process. During the drift, they become smaller particles that are classified according to their size range into macroplastics (which include megaplastics, macroplastics themselves and mesoplastics) and microplastics (microplastics and nanoplastics themselves) and interact in different ways with the community of fish at different stages of the life cycle (Blettler et al., 2017;Andrade et al., 2019;Bancin et al., 2019;Blettler et al., 2019;Heinlaan et al., 2020). ...
Egg and larvae drift is a key mechanism for early fish stages to colonize nursery and growth areas and provides insights into ichthyofauna spawning times and spawning locations-crucial information for understanding fish biology. In the Tapajós River, Amazon Basin, no study has investigated the drift of ichthyoplankton along the hydrological phases nor the occurrence and dispersion of plastic waste associated with plankton. Thus, we aimed to present an overview of the spatio-temporal drift of ichthyoplankton and plastic waste in this river. Temporal sampling was carried out along a spatial gradient of approximately 300 km, covering different sectors of the river. Ichthyoplankton and plastic waste were captured through horizontal trawls on the subsurface of the water column for 10 min. Fish larvae belonging to 10 taxonomic orders and with an average size of 4.98 mm ± 3.14 mm were captured. Clupeiformes larvae occurred in all hydrological phases and reproductive peaks for other orders were recorded. Plastic waste was classified into 20 types according to color and shape and an average size of 1.55 mm ± 1.27 mm. Green fragments and blue filaments were the most abundant. We found the highest density of fish eggs and larvae drifting during the drought phase in stretches with greater environmental structure, whereas plastics were more abundant during the receding water phase in more turbulent stretches that have impacts from illegal mining. Simultaneous drift of ichthyoplankton and plastic waste was recorded in all hydrological phases and sampled sectors. This is worrying because, although we did not analyze the ingestion of plastics by fish larvae, plastic waste can enter the nursery areas of the Tapajós River and reduce the function of these areas for fish. Here we discover through the high densities of fish eggs and larvae deriving that the Tapajós River is an important reproduction site for ichthyofauna and that the presence of different landscape configurations prove to be a key factor in the dispersion, retention and development of ichthyoplankton and plastic waste.
... This high diversity of fish has been impacted by mining activities (Asner et al., 2013), introduction of exotic species (Pelicice et al., 2014), overexploitation (Castello et al., 2011), changes in land cover (Coe et al., 2009), climate change (Herrera-R et al., 2020), and the construction of hydroelectric power plants (Latrubesse et al., 2021;Timpe and Kaplan, 2017). Currently, MPs are also known to contribute to the degradation of the Amazon's freshwater ecosystems at unprecedented rates, including pristine areas (Castello and Macedo, 2016;Schmid et al., 2018;Andrade et al., 2019). ...
... Based on previous studies in the marine environment (Karthik et al., 2018;Roch et al., 2020;Dantas et al., 2020;Jayewardenepura, 2021) and, more recently, in the Amazon (Pegado et al., 2018;Andrade et al., 2019;Ribeiro-Brasil et al., 2020), the following hypotheses were defined: (i) fish that inhabit sandy beaches are contaminated by MPs because of the presence of point and diffuse sources of pollution responsible for MP inputs to the Machado River; and (ii) MP abundance and richness varies among species, trophic categories, and landscape aspects, such as distance from urban settlements. The assessment of fish contamination by emerging contaminants (MPs) is important for the formulation and implementation of policies and strategies for the conservation of regional biodiversity, in order to promote sustainable development in Amazonian River ecosystems. ...
... Results indicated that 82 % of the fish species (n = 24 species) analyzed ingested MPs, confirming the first hypothesis of the present study, which stated that fish associated with sandy beaches along the Machado River incorporated this pollutant. The presence of MPs in the ichthyofauna of the Amazon's rivers has been reported in few studies (Pegado et al., 2018; 30 % of species with MPs, N total = 189, Species total (S total ) = 46 , Andrade et al., 2019; 80 % of species with MPs, N total = 172, S total = 16, Ribeiro-Brasil et al., 2020; 100 % of species with MPs, N total = 68, S total = 14), especially in protected areas. According to Luo et al. (2019), the development of urban centers and agricultural and livestock farming within river basins has increased point and diffuse sources of MP pollution, with indication of the highest concentrations of MP in basins where urbanization predominates compared with basins with high percentages of forest cover. ...
Microplastic (MP) pollution is a global problem and has affected several biological levels even in protected areas. In the present study, MP contamination was investigated in fish associated with sandy beaches in a permanent environmental protection area in the Amazon. In order to achieve this goal, the shape, color, abundance, richness, and chemical composition of MPs in the digestive tract of 29 fish species in 24 beaches of the Machado River, western Brazilian Amazon, were evaluated. Linear mixed models (LMMs) were adjusted to test the effects of local human modification (HMc), distance from urban settlements, distance from the closest affluent, and trophic categories of fish species on microplastic abundance and richness in their digestive tracts. From the 1082 fish analyzed, 332 (30 %) presented MPs in their digestive tracts. A total of 617 MPs was found (1.8 ± 1.6 MPs; 4.5 ± 1.9 MPs/g fish). Omnivorous and insectivorous fish presented more MPs in sandy beaches located closer to urban settlements. However, carnivorous fish presented a higher abundance of MPs in their digestive tracts compared with the other trophic guilds. This is the first study to analyze plastic contamination in fish associated with sandy beaches in the Amazon (Brazil), and it revealed contamination of the ichthyofauna mainly related to the distance from urban settlements. Our results reinforce the need for better management of landscape surrounding protected areas to mitigate MP pollution.
... Plastic debris were found in fishing cat scats containing mammal and bird remains. While we were unable to perform statistical analyses, owing to small sample size, to test for associations between prey types and plastic ingestion, previous studies performed elsewhere in the world have found freshwater mammals, birds, and fish contaminated with plastics (Andrade et al., 2019;Basto et al., 2019;Cera and Scalici, 2021;Gallitelli et al., 2022;Puskic et al., 2020;Roman et al., 2016;Santos et al., 2021). Further, the plastic colours (white, off-white, light brown) we observed are documented to prompt birds and fish to mistake the plastic debris for prey (Andrade et al., 2019;Azzarello et al., 1987). ...
... While we were unable to perform statistical analyses, owing to small sample size, to test for associations between prey types and plastic ingestion, previous studies performed elsewhere in the world have found freshwater mammals, birds, and fish contaminated with plastics (Andrade et al., 2019;Basto et al., 2019;Cera and Scalici, 2021;Gallitelli et al., 2022;Puskic et al., 2020;Roman et al., 2016;Santos et al., 2021). Further, the plastic colours (white, off-white, light brown) we observed are documented to prompt birds and fish to mistake the plastic debris for prey (Andrade et al., 2019;Azzarello et al., 1987). We found only two studies that investigated freshwater plastic contamination in Sri Lanka (n = 2). ...
... When examined, the level of plastic contamination in terrestrial and freshwater systems can far exceed what is detected in marine systems (Tariq et al., 2022). Andrade et al. (2019) report that urban freshwater systems have high levels of plastic pollution because they are 'pollutant sinks' fed by urban discharge, wind, and improper waste management (Townsend et al., 2019). Further, plastic contamination may be exacerbated in systems that experience heavy rainfall and monsoons (such as in Colombo) due to surface runoff and excess water flow from upstream (Atugoda et al., 2022). ...
Recent studies have suggested that plastic contamination in some terrestrial and freshwater environments is estimated to be greater than that detected in marine environments. Urban wetlands are prone to plastic pollution but levels of contamination in their wildlife are poorly quantified. We collected 276 fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) scat samples in Colombo, Sri Lanka for a dietary study of urban fishing cats. We used traditional dietary analysis methodology to investigate the contents of the scats by washing, isolating, and identifying prey remains; while sorting prey remains of individual scats, we unexpectedly detected macroscopic (>1 mm) plastic debris in six (2.17%) of the samples. Across all scat samples, we detected low occurrences of microplastics (0.72%), mesoplastics (1.09%) and macroplastics (1.45%). All three plastic types were found in scats containing rodent remains, while meso-, and macroplastics were found in scats with avian remains, and micro- and macroplastics in scats containing freshwater fish remains. Given that felids are obligate generalist carnivores that eat live or recently dead prey and do not consume garbage, our findings suggest that trophic transfer of plastics occurred whereby fishing cats consumed prey contaminated with plastic. Although macroscopic plastic detection was low, our findings suggest that accumulation of plastics is occurring in wetland food webs, and plastic pollution in freshwater terrestrial systems could pose a risk to predators that do not directly consume plastics but inhabit contaminated environments.
... Lips of folivorous pacus such as Tometes and Myleus (Andrade, Fitzgerald, et al., 2019a, Andrade, Winemiller, et al., 2019b, as well as the lips of planktivorous and algivorous species like Metynnis luna and Metynnis maculatus (Ramos et al., 2018;Andrade, Fitzgerald, et al., 2019a, Andrade, Winemiller, et al., 2019b, are thinner and composed of three layers. The epidermal layer is relatively thin and studded liberally with goblet cells and large taste buds (Figure 3a,e, Figure 4e; Table 3). ...
... Lips of folivorous pacus such as Tometes and Myleus (Andrade, Fitzgerald, et al., 2019a, Andrade, Winemiller, et al., 2019b, as well as the lips of planktivorous and algivorous species like Metynnis luna and Metynnis maculatus (Ramos et al., 2018;Andrade, Fitzgerald, et al., 2019a, Andrade, Winemiller, et al., 2019b, are thinner and composed of three layers. The epidermal layer is relatively thin and studded liberally with goblet cells and large taste buds (Figure 3a,e, Figure 4e; Table 3). ...
... Catoprion mento has the least complex lip relative to other serrasalmids, and so in some ways the most divergent phenotype-fitting its odd ecological role as a scale-feeder or lepidophage (Nico & Taphorn, 1988;Kolmann et al., 2018; Figure 6a; Supplementary appendices (Data S3)). Serrasalmines (piranhas like Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus, as well as Metynnis) cluster together with folivorous taxa like Myleus and Tometes, except for Pygopristis, which is more similar to omnivores like Acnodon and Myloplus schomburgkii (Andrade et al., 2016;Andrade, Fitzgerald, et al., 2019a, Andrade, Winemiller, et al., 2019bDary et al., 2017). Two Myloplus species cluster with Colossoma and Piaractus, our most obligate frugivorous taxa, with Colossoma being more distinct from these other species (Figure 6a). ...
Complex prey processing requires repositioning of food between the teeth, as modulated by a soft tissue appendage like a tongue or lips. In this study, we trace the evolution of lips and ligaments, which are used during prey capture and prey processing in an herbivorous group of fishes. Pacus (Serrasalmidae) are Neotropical freshwater fishes that feed on leaves, fruits, and seeds. These prey are hard or tough, require high forces to fracture, contain abrasive or caustic elements, or deform considerably before failure. Pacus are gape‐limited and do not have the pharyngeal jaws many bony fishes use to dismantle and/or transport prey. Despite their gape limitation, pacus feed on prey larger than their mouths, relying on robust teeth and a hypertrophied lower lip for manipulation and breakdown of food. We used histology to compare the lip morphology across 14 species of pacus and piranhas to better understand this soft tissue. We found that frugivorous pacus have larger, more complex lips which are innervated and folded at their surface, while grazing species have callused, mucus‐covered lips. Unlike mammalian lips or tongues, pacu lips lack any intrinsic skeletal or smooth muscle. This implies that pacu lips lack dexterity; however, we found a novel connection to the primordial ligament which suggests that the lips are actuated by the jaw adductors. We propose that pacus combine hydraulic repositioning of prey inside the buccal cavity with direct oral manipulation, the latter using a combination of a morphologically heterodont dentition and compliant lips for reorienting food.
... Segundo os autores, a biota aquática está mais susceptível a ingestão de microplásticos em ambientes mais urbanizados. Andrade et al. (2019), por sua vez, publicaram o primeiro trabalho sobre a ingestão de plásticos e microplásticos em 16 espécies de peixes nativos da região amazônica. Os pesquisadores identificaram a presença de 12 tipos diferentes de polímeros cujo tamanho variou de 1 a 15 6 mm. ...
... A ingestão de partículas plásticas pelos peixes de água doce, e os componentes químicos existentes nesses polímeros liberados no meio aquático, podem interferir negativamente em toda cadeia trófica (WAGNER et al., 2014). Estudos em escala global apresentam dados sobre o aumento da quantidade de microplásticos ingeridos pela ictiofauna de diversas espécies, inclusive de importância comercial, incluindo herbívoros, onívoros e carnívoros (JABEEN et al., 2017, SILVA-CAVALCANTI et al., 2017, ANDRADE et al., 2019, HUBNER et al., 2020. As pesquisas com peixes de água doce mesmo que escassas e incipientes no Brasil, detectaram a presença de micropartículas em peixes de diversas guildas tróficas (SILVA-CAVALCANTI et al., 2017, BLETTLER et al., 2019SMITH, 2020, URBANSKI et al., 2020HEPP, 2021). ...
... Dos 16 estudos obtidos neste levantamento, os rios tem um total de 62,5% (n=10) dos trabalhos realizados, enquanto que os riachos 25% (n=4) e lagos e reservatórios 12,5% (n=2) (Fig. 5 , SOUSA et al., 2020, no Paraná e no Rio Grande do Sul (FERRARI; HEPP, 2021). Os estudos em rios foram desenvolvidos em sua maioria no estado de São Paulo, onde as pesquisas foram desenvolvidas nos rios Tietê, Peixe e Sorocaba (OLIVEIRA; CORRÊA, SMITH, , URBANSKI et al., 2020, no baixo Xingu, Amazonas (ANDRADE et al., 2019) ...
A introdução de contaminantes de diversas classes nos ecossistemas tem se intensificado, sendo atualmente o plástico o material mais descartado. Dentre todos os ambientes, o meio aquático vem sendo bastante impactado pela presença desse resíduo, já que os organismos que ali vivem acabam tendo uma exposição corpórea mais intensa. Os polímeros plásticos têm sua ocorrência descrita desde toda a linha costeira até fundos oceânicos, sendo considerado onipresente no mar. Seus formatos menores, denominados de microplásticos (MPs), geram ainda mais impacto à natureza e aos organismos, já que podem se dispersar facilmente pelo ambiente, carreando poluentes e adsorvendo substâncias, de acordo com sua composição e condições físico-químicas do ambiente (pH, salinidade, matéria orgânica, entre outras). Gerando impactos de maneira direta aos organismos pela ingestão da partícula ou de maneira indireta, pelo contato com seus lixiviados presentes nas matrizes ambientais (água e sedimento), podendo acarretar em efeitos letais e subletais a biota. A toxicidade dos MPs vem sendo avaliada, e apesar de ainda haver muitas lacunas para a compreensão deste fenômeno, relatos já demonstram sua capacidade de gerar efeitos desde o nível bioquímico até danos teciduais. Com o atual cenário da poluição por MPs em ambientes costeiros e marinho, se fazem necessários a realização de mais estudos para compreender o real impacto das partículas plásticas, bem como auxiliar no desenvolvimento e implementação de ações e políticas públicas para combater os impactos dos microplásticos nestes ecossistemas.
... Segundo os autores, a biota aquática está mais susceptível a ingestão de microplásticos em ambientes mais urbanizados. Andrade et al. (2019), por sua vez, publicaram o primeiro trabalho sobre a ingestão de plásticos e microplásticos em 16 espécies de peixes nativos da região amazônica. Os pesquisadores identificaram a presença de 12 tipos diferentes de polímeros cujo tamanho variou de 1 a 15 6 mm. ...
... A ingestão de partículas plásticas pelos peixes de água doce, e os componentes químicos existentes nesses polímeros liberados no meio aquático, podem interferir negativamente em toda cadeia trófica (WAGNER et al., 2014). Estudos em escala global apresentam dados sobre o aumento da quantidade de microplásticos ingeridos pela ictiofauna de diversas espécies, inclusive de importância comercial, incluindo herbívoros, onívoros e carnívoros (JABEEN et al., 2017, SILVA-CAVALCANTI et al., 2017, ANDRADE et al., 2019, HUBNER et al., 2020. As pesquisas com peixes de água doce mesmo que escassas e incipientes no Brasil, detectaram a presença de micropartículas em peixes de diversas guildas tróficas (SILVA-CAVALCANTI et al., 2017, BLETTLER et al., 2019SMITH, 2020, URBANSKI et al., 2020HEPP, 2021). ...
... Dos 16 estudos obtidos neste levantamento, os rios tem um total de 62,5% (n=10) dos trabalhos realizados, enquanto que os riachos 25% (n=4) e lagos e reservatórios 12,5% (n=2) (Fig. 5 , SOUSA et al., 2020, no Paraná e no Rio Grande do Sul (FERRARI; HEPP, 2021). Os estudos em rios foram desenvolvidos em sua maioria no estado de São Paulo, onde as pesquisas foram desenvolvidas nos rios Tietê, Peixe e Sorocaba (OLIVEIRA; CORRÊA, SMITH, , URBANSKI et al., 2020, no baixo Xingu, Amazonas (ANDRADE et al., 2019) ...
Faz muito tempo que o plástico foi introduzido na nossa sociedade, com um uso
sempre crescente. Ele está em praticamente tudo que consumimos e nos acompanha em
quase todos os momentos de nossa vida.
O plástico pode ser observado em diversas cores e formatos, no interior dos carros,
nos diversos tipos de embalagens que utilizamos, empregadas na indústria alimentícia, de remédios, nos supermercados, nos hospitais, nas feiras, etc. Vestimos ele, passamos
micropartículas de plástico nas nossas bocas, para auxiliar na limpeza de nossos dentes.
São copos e garrafas de inúmeros volumes, canudos, sacos plásticos, bolsas, fios, bolas,
tubos de todas as bitolas, brinquedos e outros inúmeros formatos e para centenas de
diferentes usos.
No dia a dia, é praticamente impossível escapar dos plásticos. Em decorrência
disso, os plásticos podem ser encontrados dentro dos rios, nos reservatórios, nos mares,
nos seus sedimentos, no interior de cavernas, no topo das montanhas mais altas, no ar,
nas areias dos desertos e também dentro dos animais e dos seres humanos, mas com
políticas públicas e ações pessoais podemos reduzir o seu uso.
Os estudos recentes sugerem que a seguir com o uso generalizado que fazemos, e
com o pouco cuidado que temos no adequado reuso ou descarte daqueles plásticos que
consideramos desnecessários, o plástico tem o potencial de ser o mais importante
contaminante ambiental do planeta.
No entanto, por ora, particularmente no Brasil, não há legislação que determine
monitorar a sua presença nos ecossistemas, visando avaliar seus impactos para a
qualidade desses ecossistemas e para a qualidade de vida da biota e dos seres humanos.
Mas há extrema necessidade não só para o tema ser pautado na mídia, mas que se criem
legislações nacionais e internacionais, visando avaliar a quantidade de plásticos presentes nos ecossistemas, mas que também permitam acompanhar os impactos que causam, além de propor formas de reuso e de descartes adequados. Ao mesmo tempo, estas normativas também deverão permitir criar mecanismos que visem mitigar os problemas encontrados, protegendo os ambientes menos impactados e recuperando aqueles mais comprometidos.
Este pequeno livro vem suprir uma lacuna na literatura nacional, pois muito pouco
há sobre a temática de microplástico. São capítulos que refletem as experiências dos seus autores, discorrendo sobre a presença de plásticos nos rios, mares, mangue ou
reservatórios e com sínteses de estudos em laboratório ou in situ, entre outros temas.
Com esta contribuição, espera-se incentivar novos estudos, permitindo constituir
grupos de pesquisas em todo o território brasileiro, estudando plásticos e seus impactos em todos os biomas nacionais, e auxiliando na elaboração de políticas públicas.
... A ingestão de partículas plásticas pelos peixes de água doce, e os componentes químicos existentes nesses polímeros liberados no meio aquático, podem interferir negativamente em toda cadeia trófica (WAGNER et al., 2014). Estudos em escala global apresentam dados sobre o aumento da quantidade de microplásticos ingeridos pela ictiofauna de diversas espécies, inclusive de importância comercial, incluindo herbívoros, onívoros e carnívoros (JABEEN et al., 2017, SILVA-CAVALCANTI et al., 2017, ANDRADE et al., 2019, HUBNER et al., 2020. As pesquisas com peixes de água doce mesmo que escassas e incipientes no Brasil, detectaram a presença de micropartículas em peixes de diversas guildas tróficas (SILVA-CAVALCANTI et al., 2017, BLETTLER et al., 2019, GARCIA et al., 2020SMITH, 2020, URBANSKI et al., 2020HEPP, 2021). ...
... Partículas plásticas (polietileno, cloreto de polivinila, poliamida, polipropileno, metacrilato de metila, rayon, polietileno tereftalato) de diferentes tamanhos (nano, micro ou meso plástico), pesos e cores (azul, vermelho, amarelo, preto, transparente) foram encontrados na ictiofauna amostrada em território brasileiro, que conferem riscos de contaminação a diferentes espécies de peixes, podendo ocasionar desregulações fisiológicas e alterações comportamentais, inclusive, podendo afetar negativamente a população humana (ANDRADE et al., 2019, GARCIA et al., 2020SMITH, 2020, RIBEIRO-BRASIL et al., 2020, URBANSKI et al., 2020HEPP, 2021). As fibras sintéticas são frequentemente relatadas como o tipo de microplástico mais recorrente no conteúdo estomacal e brânquias dos peixes em diversos estudos, devido a sua densidade e espessura (NEVES et al., 2015, PHUONG et al., 2016, BELLAS et al., 2016, PAZOS et al., 2017, PARTON et al., 2020. ...
... e no Rio Grande doSul (FERRARI;HEPP, 2021). Os estudos em rios foram desenvolvidos em sua maioria no estado de São Paulo, onde as pesquisas foram desenvolvidas nos rios Tietê, Peixe e Sorocaba (OLIVEIRA; CORRÊA,SMITH, 2020, URBANSKI et al., 2020, no baixo Xingu, Amazonas(ANDRADE et al., 2019) e no rio Pajeú em Pernambuco(SILVA-CAVALCANTI et al., 2017). ...
O consenso entre os cientistas de que o descarte incorreto dos plásticos acarreta diversos prejuízos
aos ecossistemas aquáticos, impactando sua biodiversidade trouxe uma corrida a pesquisas para
descrever e entender os processos e as consequências destes. O microplástico e nanoplástico
chegam aos peixes por meio da respiração, ingestão direta, ou pela ingestão de zooplâncton e de
outros organismos. Inicialmente, o foco das pesquisas abordava os ecossistemas marinhos, mas
recentemente ampliaram-se as pesquisas com rios, riachos, lagos e reservatórios, já que o ponto
inicial de grande parte desse resíduo antropogênico vem dos ecossistemas de água doce. Mesmo
com o aumento recente das pesquisas nesses ambientes, o conhecimento sobre as consequências
que acarretam ao ecossistema e a comunidade íctica ainda são incipientes. O presente capítulo teve
como objetivo realizar uma revisão bibliográfica com foco nas pesquisas com microplásticos na
ictiofauna de rios, lagos e riachos, ressaltando os tipos de ambientes mais estudados, as temáticas,
os tipos de plásticos e principais impactos relatados. Para esta revisão foi considerado os artigos
publicados no período entre em 2010 e 2021, utilizando os principais sistemas de busca voltados para
pesquisa científica seguindo critérios pré-estabelecidos. De um total de 144 publicações, somente 16
artigos (11%) foram incluídos, já que atenderam aos critérios de inclusão da revisão, dentre os quais
oito (5,5%) foram realizadas no Brasil, destes, 3 foram na Bacia Amazônica, 3 na Bacia do Paraná, 1
na Bacia do São Francisco e 1 na Bacia do Uruguai, compreendendo 4 estudos realizados em rios e
4 em riachos. A maioria dos estudos avaliou o trato gastrointestinal, havendo a necessidade de
pesquisas voltadas para análise do arco branquial da ictiofauna. Além disso, deve ser ressaltado o
pequeno número de publicações tanto em escala mundial como no Brasil, e a ausência de trabalhos
nas Bacias do Parnaíba, Tocantins e Paraguai. Dada a crescente necessidade de fazer avaliações
comparativas para identificar tendências regionais, nacionais e globais na distribuição de nano e
microplásticos nos ecossistemas de água doce e na ictiofauna, isso se torna um grande desafio, pois,
embora muitos estudos utilizem técnicas amplamente aceitas e semelhantes, ainda não existe um
protocolo padronizado e as pesquisas são restritas a verificar a presença e não estabelece relações
com as concentrações ou com os habitats mais susceptíveis, ou gradientes longitudinais ou verticais
ao longo de rios e lagos.
... The primary source of microplastics is human production, mainly from the manufacture of personal care products, such as toothpaste, scrubs, and cosmetics [2,6,7]. The secondary source of microplastics are environmental processes, such as the exposure to ultraviolet rays, oxidation, temperature, and microorganisms, which contribute to the degradation of large pieces of plastic such as bottles, bags, and fishing nets into smaller pieces [8,9]. ...
... Following size categories described by [7], pieces of plastic <5 mm long were considered as microplastic [8,15], and those >5 mm as mesoplastic. ...
... The most abundant color in the coral ecosystem was black; it is the second most abundant category after transparent, in the study by [6] on microplastics and mesoplastics in fish from China and by [15] in fish from the Thames and Clyde estuaries, Scotland. Similarly, black was the most abundant color for the study by [8,14]. It has been observed that the most common plastics on the surface of the water are black, such as those found in the digestive tract of fish [45]. ...
This study aims to determine whether differences exist between the presence of microplastics and mesoplastics in fishes of coral reef and mangrove ecosystems, in Isla Grande, Colombian Caribbean. The collection of three species of coral reef (Centropomus undecimalis, Caranx hippos, and Lutjanus synagris) and three species of mangrove from coral reef (Centropomus undecimalis, Eugerres plumieri, and Archosargus rhomboidalis) were found to have ingested microplastics and mesoplastics, with a significantly higher in the mangrove species than in the coral reef species (1.9 vs. 1.6 items/individual). Furthermore, the average abundance and weight of microplastics and mesoplastics were significantly higher in females than in males (p < 0.05) and the abundance of microplastics and mesoplastics in the intestines was significantly higher than in the stomach (p < 0.05). PE, polyester, PVC, and PET were the most abundant polymers among common plastics found in species of the two habitats. Our findings highlight the importance of more rigorous plastic waste management strategies in areas nearby the coast and mangrove habitats.
... Plastic ingestion has already been reported for approximately 427 fish species worldwide (Azevedo-Santos et al. 2019) and has been much discussed in the last decade for species in marine environments (Dantas et al. 2012;Ory et al. 2017;Cardozo et al. 2018;Ferreira et al. 2018). Recent studies also report plastic ingestion by freshwater species (Silva-Cavalcanti et al. 2017;Andrade et al. 2019;Garcia et al. 2020;Lima et al. 2021). It is also known that different dietary habits can directly impact the intake of plastics by fish (McGoran et al. 2018;Andrade et al. 2019), since differences in prey utilization can increase the probability of accidental ingestion of these particles. ...
... Recent studies also report plastic ingestion by freshwater species (Silva-Cavalcanti et al. 2017;Andrade et al. 2019;Garcia et al. 2020;Lima et al. 2021). It is also known that different dietary habits can directly impact the intake of plastics by fish (McGoran et al. 2018;Andrade et al. 2019), since differences in prey utilization can increase the probability of accidental ingestion of these particles. Ingestion of plastics can lead to significant reductions in fish populations (Boerger et al. 2010), given that the effects of the interaction of plastic and wildlife are many. ...
Some studies have shown that freshwater ecosystems are polluted in a similar proportion to marine ecosystems; however, there are many gaps to be filled in this topic. Here, we investigated whether plastics were consumed by carnivore fishes in a Neotropical floodplain and whether it was connected to seasonality (dry and wet seasons). We also evaluated the association between each type of plastic and the fish species. We analyzed the gastrointestinal contents of 23 species and assessed the occurrence and number of plastic particles. Plastics were obtained through chemical digestion and the spectrum of each sample, using a FT-IR imaging microscope. We performed a correspondence analysis (CA) with plastic data to assess the relationship between each type of plastic and the fish species. We also performed linear regression models to assess the relationships of occurrence and number of plastics ingested with seasonality. Nine species had plastics in their gastrointestinal contents, and they were identified as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyamide (PA), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and polypropylene (PP). The number of plastics had a positive relationship with the wet season, while the occurrence did not show a significant relationship with any season. These results are particularly important when considering the socioeconomic relevance and the ecological importance of this trophic guild.
... This gap in our knowledge may decrease the focus on this phenomenon in polluted regions of the country. Hydrographic basins such as Amazon, Ivaí, Pajeú, Paraíba do Sul, Sinos, Tietê, Uruguay, are contaminated with plastic materials (Silva-Cavalcanti et al., 2017;Andrade et al., 2019;Giarrizzo et al., 2019;Garcia et al., 2020;Oliveira et al., 2020;Ribeiro-Brasil et al., 2020;Urbanski et al., 2020;Ferrari and Hepp, 2021;Ferraz et al., 2020;Lima et al., 2021). It is therefore likely many other Brazilian watersheds, not yet investigated for plastic pollution, are similarly contaminated. ...
... It is therefore likely many other Brazilian watersheds, not yet investigated for plastic pollution, are similarly contaminated. Since plastics (micro, meso, and macro) are available in such areas and are already interacting with animals (e.g., Andrade et al., 2019;Lima et al., 2021), it is very likely that freshwater birds are making use of these pollutants in their nests. Therefore, studies with a similar scope to that of the present investigation on C. ruficapillus should be carried out in the polluted watersheds of Brazil. ...
Here we report the use of plastics by Chrysomus ruficapillus (Vieillot, 1819) (Passeriformes: Icteridae), popularly known as “Garibaldi”, in its nesting activities. The phenomenon was registered on October 17, 2020 near Furnas reservoir, upper Paraná River Basin, in Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. We also discuss the possible negative effects — e.g., asphyxiation, entanglement — for C. ruficapillus using plastic materials in nesting activities. Finally, we call attention to the need for further investigations about similar events in other Brazilian watersheds.
... For example, Santos Queiroz et al. (2022) reported high MP exposure levels in water samples collected along the Amazon Continental Shelf (320-13,000 MPs/m 3 ), while Gerolin et al. (2020) denoted an increase in MP concentrations in sediment samples collected downstream of the urban area of Manaus (Brazil). Moreover, some studies have reported the occurrence of MPs in the digestive tract of fish (Andrade et al., 2019;Pegado et al., 2018; as well as in anemones (Morais et al., 2020) collected from the Amazon River estuary, suggesting that the Amazon River is an important entry route for MPs into the Atlantic Ocean. In fact, the study by Lebreton et al. (2017) suggested that the Amazon River is one of the world´s top-ten polluting rivers in terms of plastic emissions into the ocean. ...
Microplastics (MPs) are one of the most widespread contaminants worldwide, yet their risks for freshwater ecosystems have seldom been investigated. In this study, we performed a large monitoring campaign to assess the presence and risks of MPs in Amazonian freshwater ecosystems. We investigated MP pollution in 40 samples collected along 1500 km in the Brazilian Amazon, including the Amazon River, three major tributaries, and several streams next to the most important urban areas. MPs in the 55-5000 µm size range were characterized (size, shape, color) by microscopy and identified (polymer composition) by infrared spectroscopy. Ecotoxicological risks were assessed using chronic Species Sensitivity Distributions for effects triggered by food dilution and tissue translocation using data alignment methods that correct for polydispersity of environmental MPs and bioaccessibility. This study shows that MPs are ubiquitous contaminants in Amazonian freshwater ecosystems, with measured concentrations (55-5000 µm) ranging between 5 and 152 MPs/m3 in the Amazon River and its main tributaries, and between 23 and 74,550 MPs/m3 in urban streams. The calculated Hazardous Concentration for the 5% of species (HC5) derived from the SSDs for the entire MP range (1-5000 µm) were 1.6 × 107 MPs/m3 (95% CI: 1.2 × 106 - 4.0 × 108) for food dilution, and 1.8 × 107 MPs/m3 (95% CI: 1.5 × 106 - 4.3 × 108) for translocation. Rescaled exposure concentrations (1-5000 µm) in the Amazon River and tributaries ranged between 6.0 × 103 and 1.8 × 105 MPs/m3, and were significantly lower than the calculated HC5 values. Rescaled concentrations in urban streams ranged between 1.7 × 105 and 5.7 × 108 MPs/m3, and exceeded both calculated HC5 values in 20% of the locations. This study shows that ecological impacts by MP contamination are not likely to happen in the Amazon River and its major tributaries. However, risks for freshwater organisms may be expected in near densely populated areas, such as the cities of Manaus or Belem, which have limited wastewater treatment facilities.
... There are very limited data to understand the associative health risk of MNPs on humans comprehensively. Deduction for other studies has shown the adverse impacts on the intestines on marine organisms [147,148]. At the same time, studies on poultry birds have shown MNPs to cause oxidative stress, inflammation, and other forms of particulate toxicity that could eventually progress to tumorigenesis [29]. ...
Micro-and nanoplastics (MNPs) are particles that are smaller than a millimeter in size and have infiltrated both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. MNPs pollution have become a widespread problem causing severe adverse effects on human health and the environment worldwide. Once in the environment, these polymers are not easily degradable due to their recalcitrant nature and small size and are easily consumed by aquatic organisms and transported through the food chain, at great risk to human health. Substantial evidence demonstrates the negative effects of MNPs residues on aquatic organisms' reproductive and developmental defects. Similarly, soil flora, soil quality, and plant height have been severely impacted by their presence in the agroecosystem. This is evident in the inhibition of water absorption by blocked seed pores, delayed germination, and the dramatic decline in transpiration rates and growth of plant roots, inevitably leading to drop in biomass and crop production, posing an overall threat to global food security. In this review, we present the impact of MNPs in agroecosystems around the globe, including their sources, occurrence, distribution, transport, and ultimate fate. We recommend using bio-based plastics, eco-friendly remediation strategies, reformed agricultural practices, non-single-use synthetic plastic legislation, and increased plastic waste disposal awareness campaigns as effective tools to mitigate this problem.
... To date, the ingestion of plastic by freshwater organisms (from invertebrates to mammals) has been ascertained for more than 200 species worldwide (Azevedo-Santos et al., 2021). In the Amazon, as much as 80% of the fish species examined had ingested plastic particles (Andrade et al., 2019). ...
... For the most part, the sizes of the fishes in our study were large enough that we do not expect them to be directly consuming microplastics, such as through misidentification with other small food items. Rather, we expect the consumption of microplastics in our study was a function of the microplastics in prey items or accidental ingestion from water taken in during feeding (e.g., Andrade et al., 2019). We did not find any clear species impact on microplastics loads, but we did see increases in microplastics with downstream river location (particularly increasing around Cape Girardeau, MO, which is a short distance downstream from St. Louis, MO). ...
Microplastics are ubiquitous in Earth’s ecosystems and many efforts have begun to understand their distributions. Large rivers, like the Mississippi River, provide a unique system in which to look at large-scale patterns of microplastic distribution. In this study, we sampled four species of widely-distributed fishes from five sites along the mainstem Mississippi River, from Minnesota to Louisiana, United States. Microplastics were found in all fish species and at all sites; however, microplastics increased in occurrence in the Lower Mississippi River. Fragments were the most common morphologies and polypropylene was the most common polymer detected. We also examined the hypothesis that microplastic loads in fishes increased downstream, but found support for this hypothesis only when examining Largemouth Bass; Flathead Catfish, Shortnose Gar, and Bluegill were all found to have similar microplastic loads along the mainstem Mississippi River. It is clear that microplastics are heterogeneously distributed throughout ecosystems, and further understanding of microplastic distributional patterns and varying species burdens are needed to fully understand threats that microplastics present.
... MPs contaminants present a serious hazardous risk to freshwater fauna, and significant biochemical and molecular modifications in homeostasis have been described: genotoxicity, ROS production, liver changes, and the inhibition of the growth rate, etc. Because of their small sizes, MPs particles can be easily mixed with the food and ingested or incorporated by the freshwater organisms, including: fishes [80][81][82], bivalves [83], and caddisflies [84], etc. Besides ingestion, another major route of exposure to MPs, which has been described for animals, is inhalation [85]. ...
Microplastics (MPs) represent small plastic particles with sizes between 1 μm and 5 mm, are insoluble in water, and classified as primary (these are originally produced in small sizes) or secondary (the result of the degradation of plastic) types. MPs accumulate in all ecosystems, including freshwater environments, where they are subjected to degradation processes. Due to their ubiquitous nature, freshwater ecosystems, which have a vital importance in human life, are permanently subjected to these small plastic particles. In this context, MPs pollution is considered to be a global issue, and it is associated with toxic effects on all the elements of the freshwater environment. In this review, we present, in detail, the main physical (density, size, color, shape, and crystallinity) and chemical (chemical composition and modification of the MPs’ surface) properties of MPs, the mechanism of biodegradation, and the consequences of autotrophic organisms and fauna exposure by focusing on the freshwater environment. The toxicity mechanisms triggered by MPs are related to the critical parameters of the particles: size, concentration, type, and form, but they are also dependent on species exposed to MPs and the exposure route.
... Although not significant, only a slight decrease in the ingestion of MPs in carnivorous organisms has been observed compared to omnivorous specimens, while MFs are comparable in both groups. Similarly, Andrade et al. (2019) did not observe significant differences in the ingestion of MPs between fish species with different eating habits, although omnivores ingested more MPS than carnivores. On the other hand, numerous studies highlight a considerable variability in MPs ingestion patterns, which can be explained through the combination of biological characteristics of the fish such as size, habitat, and trophic level, and characteristics of the MPs such as size, shape, type of polymer, and chemical substances possibly adhered (Parker et al., 2021). ...
In this study, we investigated the presence, abundance, and chemical nature of microplastics (MPs) in the freshwater fish gastrointestinal tract in the South of Italy, and evaluated the possible correlation between MPs and environmental pollutants. Fifty specimens belonging to five species (Scardinius erythrophthalmus, Barbus barbus, Rutilus rubilio, Leuciscus cephalus, Salmo trutta), from twenty sites were collected. MPs chemical feature was identified by means of Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) and Raman microscopy. MPs were represented by 34.86 % fragments, film, and foam (all together MPs) and 65.14 % by fibers (MFs). The mean number of MPs/MFs per fish ranged from 6.25 ± 4.35 in R. rubilio and 2.26 ± 1.94 in B. barbus. The highest number of MPs/MFs per g of GIT was found in R. rubilio (9.07±9.66), and the lowest in S. erythrophthalmus (0.75±0.53). The highest number of MPs/MFs per fish species was found in L. cephalus (16), and the lowest in S. erythrophthalmus (4). Black predominated in every type of plastic debris identified, followed by blue and white, respectively for MFs andMPs. Polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), and polypropylene (PP), were the main plastic polymers found. At fish sampling sites, comparing concentrations in soils of potentially toxic elements and persistent organic pollutants with the number ofMPs/MFs in fish, a significant correlation was noted with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and, in particular, with PCB 105, PCB 118, PCB 156, PCB 157, and PCB 167. A strong correlation was also observed with all types of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) particularly with benzo(ghi)perylene, dibenz(a,h)anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benz(a)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, and pyrene. The results of this studywould be useful to draft management and action plans, promote intervention plans aiming at removing threats to species and habitats, and address ways of renaturalization.
... The relation of trophic guilds on MP uptake is not completely clear. Andrade et al. (2019) did not find significant differences in MP uptake between carnivores, herbivores and omnivores, while Azevedo- Santos et al. (2019) found most MP in the intestines of carnivores (54.8%) and omnivores (23.2%). ...
This study investigated the occurrence of plastic particles in the digestive tracts of fish from headwater streams in a human-thinly populated region of the subtropical Sinos River basin in southern Brazil. In total, 258 individuals from 17 species were collected using electric fishing. Thirty-eight percent (38%) of the specimens contained plastic particles. All of them were fibers, with a maximum count of 43 per individual. Plastic fibers were the fourth most abundant food category. Results showed that the uptake of these plastic particles was proportional to the number of ingested food items. Fiber counts in the guts correlated with the uptake of Trichoptera, which are invertebrates using plastic particles to construct their protective cases. No significant difference in plastic uptake was detected between benthic and water column fish. No evidence of bioaccumulation of plastic particles was found in the intestines. The distance from urban areas was not related to the number of ingested plastic particles, concluding that plastics are ubiquitous and available to biota, even in remote locations. The most probable source of these particles is residences close to the streams which discharge the sewage of washing machines without any treatment.
... Alguns desses municípios surgiram de modo acelerado e sem o devido planejamento, o que gerou uma série de lacunas nos serviços prestados para os moradores, incluindo serviços de saneamento básico e de gestão dos resíduos sólidos (Velasquez et al., 2010). A gestão ineficaz desses resíduos vem sendo evidenciada em estudos ambientais desenvolvidos na região como o registro da presença de microplásticos em peixes, devido ao transporte dos resíduos pelas águas pluviais (Pegado et al., 2018;Andrade et al., 2019;Ribeiro-Brasil et al., 2020). Os resíduos de plástico provenientes das atividades antrópicas ao longo das margens ou próximo aos rios que compõem a Bacia Amazônica, coletados durante as cheias dos rios, são transportados diretamente para o oceano, intensificando, assim, o impacto ambiental gerado . ...
A destinação e tratamento adequados dos resíduos sólidos urbanos é um dos alicerces para a preservação ambiental, sobretudo na região amazônica. Diante disso, esse estudo avaliou por meio de uma análise documental, a gestão de resíduos sólidos nos 35 municípios mato-grossenses pertencentes à sub-bacia do rio Xingu. Foram analisados os Planos Municipais de Saneamento Básico (PMSB) desenvolvidos pelos referidos municípios, avaliando-se os documentos e os serviços voltados à gestão de resíduos sólidos. Observou-se que 68,6% dos municípios são classificados como pequenos e os resultados apontam que 27,0% dos PMSB apresentam falhas em sua elaboração, e que 76,5% dos municípios ainda utilizam lixões para a destinação dos seus resíduos sólidos. Evidenciou-se que todos os municípios possuem deficiências no desenvolvimento de programas voltados à reciclagem e logística reversa. As dificuldades e deficiências enfrentadas por esses municípios deve-se, na maior parte das vezes, à não adesão às políticas de gestão de resíduos pelos gestores e às dificuldades na arrecadação tributária, uma vez que a região ainda se encontra distante das condições para atender as exigências da Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos (PNRS). Assim, esses municípios deveriam dedicar-se ao desenvolvimento de ações consorciadas que supririam as deficiências e permitiriam que cumprissem, mais rapidamente, suas obrigações em relação aos PNRS.
... It is reported that omnivorous fish ingest more MPs (Garcia et al. 2020;Zheng et al. 2019), while piscivorous fish are less burdened by MPs (Roch et al. 2019). A few studies also suggest that feeding behavior does not interface with MP ingestion and is similar in all feeding guilds (Andrade et al. 2019). ...
Plastic wastes in the environment ultimately reach to the aquatic habitats and become available to aquatic organisms. The pathway of microplastic in aquatic ecosystem is very less investigated specially in freshwater. There have been evidences of MPs ingestion by freshwater biota but the fate of these MPs further in the food chain is unexplored. Thus, we reviewed the status of MPs in freshwater biota and tried to compare the studies to merge the available information, concepts, and perspectives in order to draw a conclusion on bioaccumulation potential, trophic transfer possibilities, biomagnification, and trends of ingesting MPs by the biota. In this review, the previously available information about MPs in aquatic biota is arranged, analyzed, and interpreted to understand all possible routes of MPs in freshwater habitats. The review further provides a better understanding about the lack of information and research gaps that are needed to be explored to develop a solution to the problem of MPs in near future.
... Regarding the occurrence of MPs in the fish analyzed here, the observed differences between the trout species and the torrent catfish for the total fiber abundance in GITs (Figure 3) could be attributed to species-specific feeding ecology, as suggested in previous reports on other freshwater fish species [40][41][42]. This scenario is discussed as follows. ...
The widespread use of plastic products in our modern life represents a serious threat to aquatic environments and wild animals that are exposed to plastic waste. Although microplastics (MPs) have been reported in fish from several freshwater environments around the world, mountain environments have been little studied so far. The occurrence of MPs was assessed in the gastrointestinal tracts (GITs) of non-native (rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and brown trout Salmo trutta) and native (torrent catfish Hatcheria macraei) fish from the Mendoza River in the Central Andes, Argentina. Fibers (85%) were the main MPs type recovered from the fish here analyzed, followed by fragments (15%). Blue fibers were the main type of MPs in analyzed specimens: brown trout (50%), rainbow trout (71%), and torrent catfish (63%). Significant differences in the median total MPs’ abundance and median total fiber abundance were observed among fish species. The highest MPs’ abundance was found in the GITs of brown trout followed by rainbow trout, while the lowest was found in the GITs of torrent catfish. This study represents a baseline for the occurrence and characteristics in terms of shape and color of MPs in freshwater fish collected from a mountain river of the Central Andes.
... Majority of MP morphotypes identified in the analyzed fish samples in the present study were fragments and fibers. These results are in agreement with the outcome of other similar studies from Germany (Roch et al., 2019), Brazil (Andrade et al., 2019), Canada (Campbell et al., 2017), and England (Horton et al., 2018). The distribution pattern of different morphotypes of MPs exhibited a close link to the fishery activities, domestic waste water and sewage infiltration, and other anthropogenic activities in the region (White et al., 2018). ...
At present, due to rapid urbanization and increasing anthropogenic activities, the occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in riverine fishes is becoming an emerging area of food safety concern worldwide. This study was conducted to determine the abundance of MPs in three riverine fish species (Amblypharyngodon mola, Puntius ticto, and Mystustengara) collected from six major rivers of Chhattisgarh, India. The Nile Red staining method was used for the identification and quantification of MPs in fish samples. Out of 140 fish samples examined, 87.9% of the fishes had ingested MPs. The abundance of MPs per gram of fish and per fish was 3.25 ± 2.58 and 14.9 ± 8.12, respectively. Most of the MPs identified were of fragment type and with their size ranging between 20and 300 μm. The demersal fishes had higher levels of MP contamination as compared to surface feeder fishes. Fish samples collected from Mahanadi River in Janjgir-Champa district showed the highest abundance of MPs both in terms of MPs per gram (5.93 ± 3.29) and per fish (22.7 ± 6.59), and this could be attributed to the high level of human activity with municipal waste dumping in the area. The results further suggest the possibility of human ingestion of MPs through the consumption of riverine fishes in this region. This study shows the abundance of MPs in riverine fishes which raises health concerns for the fish consumers and further research is required to assess the overall extent of the impact of MPs on the environment and human health.
... absorción directa de estos contaminantes a través de la dieta (es decir, de la presa que comen), ingestión pasiva a través de la difusión branquial (Foley et al., 2018) y activa de MPs por parte de los peces cuando se confunden con su alimentación natural (de Sá et al., 2015;Vidal et al., 2021;Ríos et al., 2022). Las diferencias observadas entre ambas especies de trucha y el bagre de torrente para la carga de fibras en TGI podrían atribuirse a la ecología de alimentaria de estos organismos, tal como lo sugieren reportes sobre otras especies de peces de agua dulce (Sanchez et al., 2014;Mizraji et al., 2017;Andrade et al., 2019;Krause et al., 2021). ...
The widespread use of plastic goods in our modern life represents a threat to the
environment, animals and humans exposed to plastic waste generated by these
products. Although the presence of microplastics (MPs) has been reported in the
biota of several freshwater systems around the world, mountainous environments
have been little studied so far. Here, we postulate that top predatory fish, such as
the trout species analyzed, represent a more useful tool for MPs assessment than
species of lower trophic levels. To address this, we evaluated whether MPs can
biomagnify from the native torrent catfish Hatcheria macraei (benthic-omnivorous
fish and main prey of trout), to predatory fish (rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss
and brown trout Salmo trutta, both exotic and invasive species). The MPs burden
(i.e., the abundance of MPs per fish) in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) was
correlated, at intra-specific level, with morphometric fish traits (weight, length and
K index) to explore a potential link with fish heath and body condition. The results
showed that blue fibers were the main type of MPs in the GITs of fish from the
Mendoza River and this finding is consistent with the pattern reported on a global
scale. In addition, through the field-based biomagnification factor, we obtained
evidence that blue fibers biomagnify from torrent catfish to both trout species in
a similar way in the Mendoza River. The correlational approach did not detect
any association between MPs burden and fish morphometry. This study
represents a baseline on the presence of MPs in native and exotic riverine fish
that inhabit the central Andes Mountain range.
... Segundo os autores, a biota aquática está mais susceptível a ingestão de microplásticos em ambientes mais urbanizados. Andrade et al. (2019), por sua vez, publicaram o primeiro trabalho sobre a ingestão de plásticos e microplásticos em 16 espécies de peixes nativos da região amazônica. Os pesquisadores identificaram a presença de 12 tipos diferentes de polímeros cujo tamanho variou de 1 a 15 Os microplásticos podem ocorrer tanto na coluna d'água como no sedimento de ambientes de água doce, como rios, lagos e reservatórios. ...
A poluição por plásticos constitui hoje um dos principais problemas ambientais associados aos ambientes aquáticos de água doce. Essa problemática, reforçada pela produção de materiais plásticos, aumenta a cada ano e pelo fato de que grande parte do que é produzido é disposto inadequadamente no ambiente natural. Além disso, estes poluentes possuem características que os tornam altamente resistentes no ambiente e impactos negativos já têm sido reportados sobre a biota aquática. Nas últimas décadas, a presença de partículas plásticas diminutas nos ecossistemas constitui uma nova face dessa problemática ambiental. Os microplásticos, como são chamadas estas partículas, possuem dimensões menores que 5 mm e podem ser gerados a partir de processos industriais ou ainda por agentes ambientais. O presente capítulo traz uma breve abordagem acerca das características, origens, distribuição e impactos dos microplásticos sobre os ambientes aquáticos.
... Whether the plastic litter is entrapped in vegetation and infrastructures, deposited on the river bottom, or transported downstream is a function of the river characteristics and dynamics (van Emmerik et al., 2022b;van Emmerik et al., 2022a). Several studies showed that rivers may act as a reservoir of plastics with a long retention time (Tramoy et al., 2020;van Emmerik et al., 2022a;Weideman et al., 2020); which in turn increases the implications of longterm exposure to biota (Andrade et al., 2019;Kelpsiene et al., 2020). Accordingly, during field visits, it was observed that most of the large plastic items in the Nile Delta were retained within the extensive network of infrastructure that abstracts a considerable area of the Nile streams, on the river banks, and within the dense vegetation. ...
... Whether the plastic litter is entrapped in vegetation and infrastructures, deposited on the river bottom, or transported downstream is a function of the river characteristics and dynamics (van Emmerik et al., 2022b;van Emmerik et al., 2022a). Several studies showed that rivers may act as a reservoir of plastics with a long retention time (Tramoy et al., 2020;van Emmerik et al., 2022a;Weideman et al., 2020); which in turn increases the implications of longterm exposure to biota (Andrade et al., 2019;Kelpsiene et al., 2020). Accordingly, during field visits, it was observed that most of the large plastic items in the Nile Delta were retained within the extensive network of infrastructure that abstracts a considerable area of the Nile streams, on the river banks, and within the dense vegetation. ...
Recent research is directed toward studying plastic pollution in rivers, and estuaries due to the importance of freshwater bodies in all aspects of life. The river deltas and estuaries are interesting for studying the flux of plastics into the oceans. The Nile River has been identified as a hot spot of plastic litter flux in the eastern Mediterranean basin. In addition, it was nicknamed “Plastic Nile”, yet this major river is largely unexplored with a lack of field measurements and adequate surveys. The current study was based on bridging this scientific gap. Three trips were conducted, covering 30 km in the Rosetta branch and 23 km in the Damietta branch, during the high water level in summer 2021, and 10 km off the inlet of Lake Burullus, in spring 2021. Microplastics in surface water ranged from 761 ± 319 to 1718 ± 1008 MPs/m3, and from 167 ± 137 to 1630 ± 1303 MPs/kg of dry sediments. Land use/ land cover mapping using Sentinel-2 images showed several sources of pollution that contribute to plastic contamination in the study area. Thermal analysis indicated seven plastic polymers; including, PE, PP, PET, PEVA, and PTFE, using discarded plastic products as reference materials. Microplastics were composed of colored and glossy fragments of sizes <500 μm, originating from land-based sources. Pollution load, polymer risk assessment, and ecological risk indices were calculated. Based on field observations macro-plastics were retained within the extensive network of infrastructure and dam systems. 80–106 billion MPs/year were estimated to flux from the Nile estuaries into the Mediterranean Sea. The current situation urges the development of binding plans to reduce plastic waste in the Nile Delta, as well as setting environmental monitoring points along the Deltaic coast.
... Usually, exposure is evaluated based on spatial distribution between different sites (Phillips and Bonner 2015;Sanchez et al. 2014), type of habitat (Roch et al. 2019) or vicinity to plastic pollution (e.g., urban wastewater treatment plants) (Campbell et al. 2017;Slootmaekers et al. 2019). Fish species attributes like feeding groups and other traits such as sex and size range have also been measured as considerations affecting microplastic ingestion ratio (Andrade et al. 2019;McNeish et al. 2018;Peters and Bratton 2016). ...
Microplastic (MP) pollution in the aquatic environment is an emerging subject worldwide. So far, very few investigations have been reported on the riverine fish population. This study investigated the implications of microplastics for three freshwater fish species (Labeo rohita, Cirrihinus mrigala, and Sperata seenghala) as bioindicators of this pollution. Raman spectroscopy was used to confirm MP polymer type and their distribution in water, sediments, and in different organs (gut, gills, liver, and muscles) of Labeo rohita, Cirrihinus mrigala, and Sperata seenghala collected from River Ravi at two sites (site I, Dhand Nano Dogar and site II, Jhamra). These selected sites were situated predominantly near agricultural lands and received polluted water from nearby sewerage and industries that represented potential sources of microplastic pollution. Histological analysis was combined with Raman spectroscopy to assess the effects of MPs on fish organs. MPs were identified in water and sediment samples with an average load (per 0.5 L or per 0.5 kg) of 33 items and 64 items for water and sediments at site I and 27 items and 19 items at site II, respectively. Of total MPs identified, 56.9% were found in bottom feeder C. mrigala, 37.91% in column feeder L. rohita, and 5.21% in S. seenghala at site I while at site II 60% were found in C. mrigala, 29% in L. rohita and 10.34% in S. seenghala. This was linked with more plastic accumulation in sediments from the nearby residential sewerage and industrial effluent flow. In this study, the identified MPs polymers were in the order of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) > polystyrene (PS) > propylene (PP) > polyethylene (PE). Among plastic shapes, fiber (58%) was the dominant plastic in water followed by fragment (21%), sheet (12%), and cube (9%). In sediment, the fragment was the common plastic shape with 51% followed by fiber (28%), sheet (19%), and cube (2%). Fragments (62.9%) in water and fibers (68.4%) in sediments were abundant at site 2. Microplastic mean occurrence in organs was in the order of gut > gills > muscles > liver at both sites. Significant histological alterations were observed in all three species including intestinal edema, hyperplasia, hepatocyte infiltration, accumulation of lipid droplets in the liver, lamellar fusion and breakage in gills, and muscle fiber necrosis. This study showed MP occurrence in the selected freshwater fishes, so further research is needed to assess plastic pollution in the riverine fish population of Pakistan. This study appeared to be the first in the selected area, as no significant information regarding plastic pollution in that riverine system was found when this study was conducted.
Graphical abstract
... In an investigation carried out in the lower Xingu River Basin in the Amazon, 172 specimens of 16 Serrasalmidae species were collected. In the samples, about 80% of species analyzed, and one-quarter of sample specimens had ingested plastic particles in the size range of 1-15 mm in length [67]. ...
... After being abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded, the nets become sources of pollution in the ecosystems concerned (Azevedo- Santos et al. 2022). Ingestion of polyamide is a concern regarding both marine and freshwater fish (e.g., Zhu Zerbini and Kotas (1998) Brazil (Pegado et al. 2018, Andrade et al. 2019, Neto et al. 2020. ...
We examined advertisements for fishing nets and surveyed the mesh sizes and chemical compositions of the nets offered for sale by two major online markets in Brazil: AliExpress and Mercado Livre. Here, we discuss the ways in which this unregulated commerce facilitates illegal fishing and impacts biodiversity, and we provide suggestions for regulating the sale of fishing nets in Brazil.
... The first sign of plastic pollution influencing freshwater fishes in the Amazon was reported by Andrade et al. (2019). Plastic bags, plastic bottles flow in the Amazonian waters and break into meso and microplastic particles integrated into the food chains via fishes. ...
Schizothorax is morphologically, meristically, and economically a very viable and valuable fish genus of Kashmir valley. Wide diversity bolstered with a high market demand makes it a very dynamic entity in the research realms. Schizothorax is intrinsically an herbivore growing to an appreciable 500 odd millimeters in length. It is an abounding source of protein, low saturated fatty acids with a significant omega-3 fatty acid content besides some minerals. However, the genus’ reported attrition is attributed
to the gross trespassing of the fish ecosystem by humans through a range of means. The vital cogs accelerating this reported recession in fish numbers is primarily the use of pesticides, the introduction of exotic fish species, construction of dams, and eutrophication of water bodies. Eutrophication, a multipronged factor, has rendered a powerful jolt to aquatic ecosystems impacting the fish at large. There is an urge to redress the decline from the cardinals by comprehensive introspection while chalking out SOPs associated with chemicals, fish conservation methods, and breeding techniques to replenish the dwindling genus from the valley.
... Several observations on MPs and free-living biota were assessed by field studies, for instance microorganisms can colonise buoyant MPs and form communities significantly different from the surrounding water (Di Pippo et al. 2020); the larvae of Trichopterans can include MPs in their protective cases (Gallitelli et al. 2021); and the ingestion of MPs is frequently observed in various taxa of both vertebrates and invertebrates (e.g. Andrade et al. 2019;Holland et al. 2016;Schessl et al. 2019). In particular, the ingestion of MPs by freshwater biota is highly reported data, especially in fish . ...
Understanding the spatial distribution patterns of microplastics (plastics < 5 mm) contributes to the assessment of sources and sinks of pollution thus providing information for the management of biota safety and overall ecosystem functionality. We chose a semi-closed study area, Lake Bracciano (Italy), to assess the environmental variability of contamination, focusing on the water compartment and the exposure of biota, specifically fish, by analysing the ingestion of microplastics. The focus of this study is to evaluate the concentration of microplastics in water (surface and column) across the lake and the ingestion of microplastics by two fish species of economic interest: Atherina boyeri and Coregonus lavaretus, inhabiting demersal and pelagic habitats respectively. Results show a surface contamination of 392,000 ± 417,000 items km⁻² and a column one of 0.76 ± 1.00 items m⁻³. Fragments were the most abundant in surface while fibres in the column. Microplastics were found in C. lavaretus specimens, corresponding to contamination frequency of 5% and concentration of 0.15 items/fish. The main polymer found in water was polyethylene (81%); of minor percentages, there were various other polymers, including polystyrene and acrylic, which were also found in fish. As scientific literature provides few research where water and fish are simultaneously sampled, this investigation wants to contribute filling this knowledge gap by investigating for the first time a volcanic lake.
... Microplastics may pose unclear human health risks [130]. The effects of microplastics on the human gut are very, very bad [133][134][135]. Consumption of microplastics on health risks will also be exposed in poultry such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and particulate toxicity that can give tumors [25,136]. ...
Contaminants from microplastics in the soil can pose a huge and potential risk to global ecological systems. Microplastic contaminants have become an issue since the source and potential risks have gained a point of great concern. This problem is due to the lack of a comprehensive and systematic analysis system for microplastics. Thus, a comprehensive review of microplastic knowledge is carried out to detect its potential risks, occurrences, sources, and characteristics. The study results show that microplastics have been found everywhere, as shown in the global matrix. However, with the advancement of increasingly sophisticated technology, the microplastics found in the soil can be reduced. The difficulties of analytical systems inherent in particles in even complex matrices can be overcome with technology. Research on the distribution and emergence of microplastics is still very slow in several countries, including Indonesia, the United States, and Africa. The composition and characteristics of microplastics in soil and the environment shows their consistency still indicates a change in source. Microplastics in the soil have extensive and diverse sources, leading to high accumulation. This study also discusses the potential risks and effects of microplastics on soil ecosystems. The interaction and combination of contaminants from adsorbed microplastics can lead to soil fertility and migration systems in the food chain. The impact of microplastics on soil depends on chemical components, natural factors, and morphology. Thus, regional quantification and estimation of emissions from microplastics have a huge gap. In addition, the concentration of microplastics and the masking of microplastics to store carbon in the soil can be influenced by natural factors and require various efforts.
... In Brazil, most of the investigations took place on coastal environments (Castro et al., 2018). In the Amazon rivers, previous studies identified the ingestion of microplastics by fishes from diverse trophic levels (Andrade et al., 2019;Pegado et al., 2018). However, to the best of our knowledge, no results from sediments of large Amazon rivers have been reported yet. ...
Studies reporting microplastics (MPs) in freshwater and drinking water environments are quite recent. While in the case of freshwater environments the first consistent results in the form of articles emerged from 2013 on the Scopus platform and have been growing exponentially, in the case of drinking water the first articles were published only in 2018. In this chapter, we present a general overview of this production separately for lotic, lentic environments and samples of drinking water and we discuss which are the main aspects addressed and which require further clarification. Finally, we point out some perspectives for the future and suggestions for knowledge gaps that must be filled by the scientific community.
... In the laboratory, MP ingestion and uptake into the gastrointestinal tract has been observed in goldfish (Carassius auratus) (Grigorakis et al., 2017), zebrafish (Danio rerio) (Kim et al., 2019), mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) (Ohkubo et al., 2020), and red seabream (Pagrus major) (Ohkubo et al., 2020). In addition, MP has been identified in wild fish captured in the Lijiang River in China , the Mondego Estuary in Portugal (Bessa et al., 2018), the Xingu River in Brazil (Andrade et al., 2019), the Pacific coast of Ecuador (Alfaro-Núñez et al., 2021), and the northern Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh (Hossain et al., 2020). These results indicate that MP ingestion by fishes is widespread. ...
We examined ingestion and retention rates of microplastics (MPs) by two freshwater (Japanese medaka and zebrafish) and two marine fish species (Indian medaka and clown anemonefish) to determine their color preferences and gastrointestinal-tract retention times. In our ingestion experiments, clown anemonefish ingested the most MP particles, followed by zebrafish, and then Japanese and Indian medaka. Next, we investigated color preferences among five MP colors. Red, yellow, and green MP were ingested at higher rates than grey and blue MPs for all tested fish species. To test whether these differences truly reflect a recognition of and preference for certain colors based on color vision, we investigated the preferences of clown anemonefish for MP colors under light and dark conditions. Under dark conditions, ingestion of MP particles was reduced, and color preferences were not observed. Finally, we assessed gastrointestinal-tract retention times for all four fish species. Some individuals retained MP particles in their gastrointestinal tracts for over 24h after ingestion. Our results show that fish rely on color vision to recognize and express preferences for certain MP colors. In addition, MP excretion times varied widely among individuals. Our results provide new insights into accidental MP ingestion by fishes.
... [5,6] For instance, cows have been reported to suffer from feeding impairment resulting in malnutrition; seabirds, sea turtles, and fishes have also been noted to ingest plastic bags as they resemble their prey. [6][7][8][9][10] Besides these, plastic bags are known not to decompose; instead, they photodegrade by splitting into several toxic pieces, contaminating water bodies and the soil, consequently endangering plant and animal flora. [1,5] To address this problem, governments of different countries have considered several approaches that include modifying the consumers' behavior toward the use of plastic bags through the introduction of charges and a ban on its production while encouraging recycling. ...
Objective: This study assessed health‑care workers’ awareness of the health and environmental hazards
associated with plastic bags and available substitutes.
Methods: This cross‑sectional questionnaire‑based survey was carried out in two rural hospitals in Northwest
Nigeria over a 4‑week study period. It included permanently employed health workers who were residents in
the study community. The data were analyzed using SPSS version‑20; the association between respondents’
sociodemographic characteristics and awareness of the harmful effects of plastic‑bags was determined
using the Chi‑square test.
Results: There were 200 respondents aged 20–55 years with a mean of 31.7 ± 8.6 years. Most, 45% (90/200),
respondents were nurses/midwives; 21% (42/200) were doctors. Most respondents, 49% (98/200), would
throw away the plastic bags after a single use; 23.5% (47/200) would keep and reuse, while 45.5% (91/200)
use reusable bags for shopping. Most respondents, 91% (182/200), were aware of the harmful effect on the
environment, while 74% (148/200) knew it could be harmful to health. Respondents’ age (>30 years) was
significantly associated with awareness of the harmful effects of used plastic bags (P = 0.03), while male
gender, age >30 years, being married, and of non‑Hausa/Fulani ethnicity were associated with awareness
of plastic‑bag substitutes.
Conclusions: Most respondents were aware of the health and environmental hazards of plastic bags and
the available substitutes. Promoting reuse of plastic bags and the use of available substitutes will help to
control this growing hazard
... Microplastic pollution in the Yangtze River and Taihu Lake represents the highest level recorded in rivers and lakes worldwide, respectively (Yao et al., 2020). Freshwater microplastic pollution has also been reported in other continents, such as Africa (Akindele et al., 2020;Biginagwa et al., 2016;Reynolds and Ryan, 2018), South America (Andrade et al., 2019;Blettler et al., 2019) and Oceania (Nan et al., 2020). Therefore, microplastics have polluted freshwater systems on all continents in the world. ...
The rapidly rising output and mass use of plastics have made plastics pollution a major environmental problem. Since plastics are persistent in the environment, understanding the migration transformation characteristics of plastics is critical. Given the ever-increasing concern about the environmental risks posed by microplastics, their prevalence, fate, abundance and impact have been intensively studied. Most of these investigations focused on the marine environment, but research on freshwater microplastics is less extensive. This article aims to briefly summarize the research progress of freshwater microplastics, identify existing gaps and draw novel conclusions, so as to provide useful information for the research of freshwater microplastics. Using the statistics and analysis of freshwater microplastics studies in 2016–2021, this review systematically discusses microplastics in globally freshwater systems. The biological effects of microplastics on freshwater organisms were discussed as well. Some potential ecological effects of microplastic biofilms were shown, such as climate change and material circulation. More importantly, we present some unique conclusions. For example, the detection of freshwater microplastics is mainly concentrated in natural freshwater systems, while few are concentrated in artificial freshwater systems. In addition, polystyrene is the main mode for testing the biological effects of freshwater microplastics, and polyethene and polypropylene which are the most common in freshwater environments, have not been taken seriously. We also pointed out that studies on advanced freshwater plants in the topic of biological effects of microplastics still need strengthen.
In this study, the response of hybrid laminated composite reinforced with recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (rPET) plain-woven mat and plain-woven Kevlar fabric under medium-velocity impact was studied. Four types of hybrid laminated composite (i.e., rPET/rPET, rPET/Kevlar, Kevlar/Kevlar, Kevlar/rPET) were fabricated using hand lay-up followed by vacuum bagging technique. The matrix material used in this study was the mixture of epoxy (SP84) and hardener (SP76). Medium-velocity puncture impact experiments were carried out on the laminated composite at different thickness and velocity of 10m/s. The performance of hybrid laminated composite was evaluated in terms of peak load, energy absorbed and impact strength. This study has also attempted to find the optimum stacking configurations of rPET and Kevlar. According to the result, stacking configurations can considerably affect the impact response. Kevlar/Kevlar hybrid laminated composite shows higher resistance to impact damage followed by Kevlar/rPET, rPET/Kevlar and rPET/rPET.
The contamination of aquatic environments by microplastic has become a major threat to biodiversity. The presence of microplastic is documented in the aquatic fauna of the oceans, but, in the Amazon basin, reports on microplastic occurrence are few. The present study surveyed microplastic occurrence in fishes in an area of the Peruvian Amazon. We sampled 61 specimens of 15 commercial species from local markets in the city of Iquitos, Loreto Department. We detected a total of 2337 microplastic particles, 1096 in the gills and 1241 in the internal organs (esophagus, stomach, intestine, liver, gonads, pancreas, swim bladder and heart). The prevalence of microplastic particles was 100% and the overall average abundance was of 38.3 particles per individual (17.9 particles per individual in gills and 20.3 particles per individual in internal organs). Most particles were found in carnivorous fish. There was no correlation of particle abundance with fish standard length and weight. These results provided evidence of the degree of microplastic contamination of the fish fauna in the region of Iquitos.
KEYWORDS:
fish diversity; fibers; freshwater conservation; Loreto; river pollution
Factors affecting the trophic transfer of microplastics (MPs) in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems remain to be clarified. Here, we determined the abundances of MPs in multiple terrestrial and aquatic species, including insects, snails, crustaceans, fishes, snakes, birds, and voles, from an abandoned e-waste recycling site. Approximately 80% of MPs were within the size range 20-50 μm. In wildlife, the MP abundances per individual and per body weight were found to be positively and negatively correlated with body weight, respectively. Herein, terrestrial vertebrates, primarily birds, exhibited more complex compositions of polymer types than other organisms owing to the wide foraging areas and diverse food sources. However, according to the MPs modeled and the observed results in bird food chains, MPs do not appear to be preferentially retained in the bird gastrointestinal tract. The species-specific polymer types identified indicate the influences of habitat on MP pollution in organisms, which is further supported by significant correlations between the abundance of MPs and δ13C in the terrestrial food web (p < 0.05). In the analyzed bird species, the low MP abundance detected in birds compared with the amount of food ingested indicates that MPs constitute a negligible factor in the bioaccumulation of chemical pollutants.
Growing public concern toward environmental sustainability is currently motivating a paradigm shift toward designing easily degradable plastics that can replace conventional synthetic plastics. Teh massive rise in food waste generation TEMPhas led to an increased burden on landfills, thereby resulting in teh higher emission of greenhouse gases. Using dis food waste to produce bioplastics will benefit not only teh environment but also develop a systematic food waste management system. Moreover, bioplastics are preferred due to teh use of biomaterials derived from renewable resources. Furthermore, bioplastics degrade faster TEMPthan conventional synthetic plastics, which take years to degrade. Teh biodegradation of bioplastics occurs under normal environmental conditions and disintegrates into carbon dioxide, water, biomass, and inorganic compounds without producing hazardous residues. In dis review, we will discuss teh synthesis of starch based bioplastics using discarded parts of various fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, we will address teh importance of various components in teh development of starch based bioplastics, such as fillers, plasticizers, and other additives that are essential in providing teh bioplastic with different physio-mechanical properties. Therefore, bioplastic production using food waste will pave teh way to achieve systematic waste management and environmental sustainability in teh near future.
The feeding characteristics of the nase, based on its mouth morphology and feeding behaviour make it a biological uptake vector for microplastics in the freshwater ecosystems. Fibres may have limited absorption through the gastro-intestinal tract and would be unlikely to find in the fish tissues. The presence of microplastic fibres in the gastro-intestinal content is a proof of how difficult it is for these fibres to become embedded in other organs. The absence of microplastic fibres found in its muscle tissue and gastro-intestinal tissue is important information for microplastic fabrication and management in aquatic ecosystems. The majority of fish have relatively low levels of microplastics, however, a few individuals have a higher dose. This is true for all types of microplastics analysed with the exception of individuals that had just one microplastic present in the analysed matrix. The microplastics are not concentrated in the fish tissues and gastro-intestinal tract content in relation with fish age, which may be due to their different mobility in the ecosystem, or due to the recent appearance of this type of contamination and the scale at which microplastics bioaccumulate. Such a relatively common fish must be included in assessment and monitoring systems of the European lotic systems. The risks involved include the transfer of the freshwater environments microplastics into human organ tissues via the food web of fishing species with the nase as a key basis.
Plastic pollution is an increasing global problem, especially in aquatic environments. From invertebrates to vertebrates, many aquatic species have been affected by plastic pollution worldwide. Waterbirds also interact with plastics, mainly by ingesting them or using them as nest material. Brazil has one of the largest aquatic environment areas, including the most extensive wetland (the Pantanal) and biggest river (the Amazon), and a ∼7500 km long coastline, which hosts a remarkable waterbird diversity with more than 200 species from 28 bird families. Here, we synthesise published and grey literature to assess where, how, and which waterbirds (marine and continental) interact with plastics in Brazil. We found 96 documents reporting interaction between waterbirds and plastics. Only 32% of the occurring species in the country had at least one individual analysed. Plastic ingestion was reported in 67% of the studies, and seabirds were the study subject in 79% of them. We found no reports in continental aquatic environments, unveiling entire regions without any information regarding interactions. Consequently, this geographic bias drew a considerable taxonomic bias, with whole families and orders without information. Additionally, most studies did not aim to search for plastic interactions, which had a twofold effect. First, studies did not report their findings using the proposed standard metric, hampering thus advances in understanding trends or defining robust baselines. Second, as it was not their main objective, plastics were not mentioned in titles, abstracts, and keywords, making it difficult to find these studies. We propose means for achieving a better understanding of waterbird-plastic interactions in space and time, and recommend searching for sentinel species and for allocating research grants.
Fish feeding on the benthos mediate important ecological processes in reef ecosystems that are threatened by several anthropogenic activities, including plastic pollution. The impacts of plastic pollution on reef ecological processes, such as herbivory, is still unclear. We experimentally tested in the field how the presence of plastic on the benthos affects fish feeding by using a blocked design to compare fish feeding within 1m² plastic-free areas and areas with either clean plastic or plastic colonized with biofilm in reefs of NE Brazil. Each area was videoed for 10 min, through which we identified fish species, estimated sizes and quantified the number of bites and feeding frequency. The presence of plastic reduced fish feeding on the benthos, regardless of the biofilm presence, and fish barely interacted with plastic debris. Our results demonstrate that the impact of plastic goes beyond entanglement and ingestion, affecting species behavior and ecological role.
Despite the integral role of plastics in modern society, effective management of plastic waste has remained unaddressed, even as the rate of plastic waste accumulation continues to accelerate. The vast majority of plastic waste has a slow degradation rate, leading to harmful environmental consequences, particularly for marine ecosystems, and may potentially have human health impacts. As a result, policymakers have begun taking action in recent years, with a focus on banning single-use plastics. While single-use plastic bans have seemingly become the preferred policy response, there is debate regarding whether they are universally the optimal policy solution. This article reviews current implementations of these bans and examines the associated environmental trade-offs. It then presents a set of potential alternative or supplemental policy options with a focus on the importance of addressing the entirety of the plastic value chain in the development of policies to grapple with the plastic waste problem.
The presence of microplastics in the whole trophic network including humans has been documented by a plethora of studies. When microplastics are introduced into the trophic structure, the routine functions of the biotic systems play a role as vectors of contaminants. At each higher level of the trophic structure, the toxic levels are biomagnified. After ingestion, depending on the size, shape, and type of the material, the microplastics may stay in the digestive tracts or be absorbed by the intestinal epithelium and/or distributed through the circulatory system or excreted. When introduced into different tissues, it may trigger a chain of physiological and behavioral responses including physical damage and a reaction to the toxic chemicals of the microplastics and the chemicals adsorbed onto them. Multimodal accumulation of microplastics in humans from air and consumption of contaminated food, bottled water, beverages, and commercial salts are recorded. Studies have also documented that microplastics with a size of ≤20 μm are capable of penetrating into all the organs, cross cell membranes, the blood-brain barrier, and the placenta!KeywordsZooplanktonPrimary predatorPrimary producerFood chainPrimary consumerSecondary consumerTertiary predatorTertiary consumerBiomagnificationBioaccumulationPhysiological responseBehavioral responsePhysical damageMortalityTranslocation
Plastic wastes in the environment ultimately reach to the aquatic habitats and becomes available to aquatic organisms. The pathway of microplastic in aquatic system is very less investigated specially in freshwater systems. There have been evidences of MPs ingestion by freshwater biota but the fate of these MPs further in the food chain is unexplored. Thus, we reviewed the status of MPs in freshwater biota and tried to compare the available studies to merge the available information, concepts and perspectives in order to draw a conclusion on bioaccumulation potential, trophic transfer possibilities, biomagnification and trends of ingesting MPs by the biota. In this review the previously available information about MPs in aquatic biota is arranged, analyzed and interpreted to understand all possible route of MPs in freshwater habitats. The review further provides a better understanding about the lack of information and research gaps that are needed to be investigated further to develop a solution to problem of MPs in future
Microplastics are a group of contaminants of emerging concern mainly due to their occurrence in different environmental matrices, such as water bodies used for public water supply, with potential risks to biota and human health. With no standardized methods for the identification and quantification of microplastics, little is known about the efficiency removal of these pollutants in conventional drinking water treatment processes. Thus, there is an urgent need for further research in investigating the behavior and removal of microplastics in aqueous media. This study evaluated the removal of microplastics in conventional water treatment, on a bench scale, simulating the processes of coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation. Treatment tests were carried out on two artificial suspensions, with distinct characteristics in terms of color (presence or absence of natural organic matter – NOM). The first stage of the tests involved the performance of treatment tests in a Jar-Test equipment, under different conditions of pH and polyaluminum chloride (PAC) coagulant concentration, culminating in two coagulation diagrams formulated in function of remaining turbidity. In the second step, some operation conditions from the coagulation diagrams were selected and replicated, adding polystyrene microspheres (mean diameter of 2 µm and density 1.05 g/cm³) to an initial concentration of 1 x 10^5 part.L-1. The microplastics removal efficiencies were obtained in function of the turbidity and of particle counting. The pH ranged from 4.8 to 10.8 and PAC concentrations from 5 mg/L to 167 mg/L (0.5 to 15.9 mg/L of Al3+). The highest turbidity removal efficiencies were obtained in the pH range 7 to 10, corresponding to 98.5% and 88.5% removal efficiencies in waters #1 and #2, respectively, characterizing the predominance of the sweep coagulation mechanism. The better results obtained in water #1 are related to the absence of NOM, which presence in water #2 has increased the aqueous media stabilization and hindered the floc formation. In the microplastics experiments, water #1 presented, under optimal conditions, similar remaining turbidities to those on the first stage results, with maximum removal efficiency of 98.8% at pH 9.6. However, the results obtained for water #2 were lower than those in the first stage of the work, with higher PAC concentrations requirements for achieving similar removals (88%) under optimal conditions. Although the adopted method for the particles counting have had interferences from other particles, it was possible to link turbidity and microplastics removal. Therefore, the study indicated that microplastics can be removed during conventional water treatment, and turbidity is an indirect parameter indicator of the removal of these micropollutants in DWTPs. Furthermore, the absence of a standardized method for the analysis and quantification of microplastics emphasizes the need for new studies to further investigation of this topic.
Pollution of the environment with plastic waste has long been an ignored issue, but is now considered a major global threat to aquatic systems and their inhabitants. Microplastics, comprising plastic fragments, beads, and fibers smaller than 5 mm, are detected in rivers, lakes and oceans all over the world. Due to their small size, they can be ingested by a wide range of aquatic organisms, including teleost fish. To date, little is known about how severely native freshwater fish species are affected by microplastics. There is also limited knowledge about how the differing gastrointestinal morphologies and foraging strategies of fish affect the uptake mechanisms and the retention time of microplastics. The aim of the thesis was to tackle some of these knowledge gaps in order to better understand the interaction of fish with microplastics in freshwater systems.
First, a new method for the detection of microplastics in fish was developed, which allowed efficient and rapid (<1 h) digestion of the entire fish gastrointestinal tract, and included an optional density separation step to reduce mineral components. (Manuscript I). This novel method made it possible to reliably and rapidly examine a large number of samples, allowing a large-scale analysis of microplastic burden in fish. This method was then used to investigate the microplastic burden of native fish species across the German state of Baden-Württemberg (Manuscript II). The overall burden of microplastics was found to be low, with an average prevalence of ~19 % and an intensity of between one and four particles per individual. Several relevant biotic and abiotic factors, such as sampling site and trophic state, were shown to have only a minor influence on microplastic burden. The results also revealed a major limitation with currently available microplastic detection methods: particles <40 μm could not be reliably detected in the gastrointestinal tract of the examined fish. However, by using the dataset acquired in this thesis it was possible to calculate the theoretical total microplastic burden in local fish with a size distribution analysis. It was found that as particle size decreases, particle concentration increases – with a power law growth fit likely indicating that over 95 % of all microplastic particles in fish are currently being excluded from collected data. This means that only a fraction of the potential size spectrum of microplastics can currently be considered in research data.
It is still not fully understood how microplastics are taken up by fish. To gain a more holistic understanding of microplastic uptake pathways, pre-existing and recently developed theories were explored through a number of practical and theoretical approaches (Manuscript III). Four fish species (rainbow trout(Oncorhynchus mykiss), grayling (Thymallus thymallus), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), crucian carp (Carassius carassius)), representing different foraging styles and domestic status, were exposed to a range of particles (varying by type and colour) with or without the provision of food; the abundance of microplastics was subsequently determined in their gastrointestinal tract. These experiments revealed that visually-orientated fish ingest microplastics actively and/or accidentally with their food much more frequently than fish that are chemosensory-orientated. In addition to the microplastic concentration in the water and fish size, the colour of the plastic particles played an important role in uptake: particles were taken up significantly more often if they resembled the colour of the food. By contrast, chemosensory foraging fish were able to discriminate larger plastic particles, and only ingested microplastics on occasion, by chance. At smaller particle sizes, uptake pathways other than feeding become more relevant; statistical models showed that in large marine fish species, notable amounts of microplastics were ingested simply through drinking. Finally, these experiments showed for the first time that domestication plays an important role in the uptake of microplastics. Relative to wild fish, farmed fish discriminated less between differently coloured plastic particles, and were more likely to actively ingest microplastics when no food source was available.
The next step was to investigate the duration that microplastic particles remained in the gastrointestinal tract of fish (Manuscript IV). A special diet was developed that contained differently sized microplastic particles. The number of retained particles in the gastrointestinal tract was determined up to 72 h after administration in two fish species (rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), common carp (Cyprinus carpio)) that have distinct gastrointestinal morphologies. The laboratory experiments showed size-dependent differences in the T50 value (time at which 50 % of the particles are excreted) of plastic particles in fish with a true stomach; particles with a size of ~1000 μm were excreted approximately three times faster than particles with a size of ~40 μm. In fish without a stomach, the differences were substantially smaller, suggesting purely passive excretion with the chyme. It was thus concluded that the morphology of the gastrointestinal tract plays a vital role in the retention of microplastics, and that large plastic particles must be actively excreted in fish with a true stomach.
Finally, controlled laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate whether realistic microplastic concentrations have detrimental short- and long-term effects on fish (Manuscript V). In addition to an analysis of established performance and health parameters, the entire rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) liver proteome was examined and the results confirmed with the help of gene expression analysis. Two groups of fish were exposed to a realistic current environmental concentration of microplastics, and a slightly elevated microplastic concentration that reflects expected microplastic exposure levels in the near future. These two groups were then compared with a control group (no exposure to microplastics) after 120 days of continuous exposure. Microplastic exposure was shown to have a significant dose-dependent effect on growth and other performance parameters (i.e. specific growth rate, feed conversion rate). There were no significant differences in blood glucose, hematocrit levels and oxidative stress levels between the groups. The proteomic analysis identified over 6000 proteins, but no clear difference in their regulation or correlation with gene expression was found between treatments. However, a number of single proteins and their respective transcripts were identified as potential biomarkers for future studies. The results therefore conclusively showed that even low microplastic concentrations have a notable impact on fish with long-term exposure. Importantly, they provide the basis for future investigations of microplastic effects on health, and demonstrates the potential of novel state-of-the-art methods that are now emerging in the field.
We assessed the importance of different types of riverine environments (river channels, tributaries, and floodplain lagoons) for the early development of fish larvae from different reproductive guilds. With samples from 25 sites scattered along a 230 km stretch of the upper Paraná River we classified 29 fish taxa into two reproductive guilds depending on their ability to perform long migrations (> 100 km): short-distance (SM) and long-distance (LM) migratory. We used network-based metrics (connectance and nestedness) to evaluate species-environment relationships, and potential effects on species’ persistence after primary losses of environments. Both reproductive guilds had low connectance and no nested structure. Regarding spatial co-occurrence patterns, SM taxa were significantly spatially segregated, whereas LM taxa showed random co-occurrence patterns. These patterns likely emerge from the dispersal of eggs and larvae throughout the main rivers and adjacent floodplain environments during floods. The average proportion of lost taxa was 25% for SM and 75% for LM when environments were randomly removed from the network, meaning that LM taxa are potentially more sensitive to habitat loss compared with SM taxa. In this study, we propose a new approach to ichthyoplankton studies using spatial networks that could contribute to support decisions about habitat prioritization. We also highlight the importance of preserving tributaries mainly used by long-distance migratory species, which spawn in these sites so the larvae can drift towards nursery areas.
This paper presents a method for microplastic (MP) mass quantification using a Focal Plane Array-based Fourier Transform Infrared imaging technique. It discusses the issue that particle number is not a conserved base quantity and hence less suited than mass to compare independent studies on MP in the environment. It concludes that MP mass should be included when quantifying MP pollution in the environment, supplementing the conventional approach of reporting particle numbers. Applying mass as the unit of MP measurement, the paper presents data showing that Danish wastewater treatment plants discharge around 3 t/year of MP in the size range 10-500 μm. This value corresponds to an annual per capita emission from these plants of 0.56 g MP/(capita year). The distribution of polymer types by mass and particle number differed because the size of MP particles of the different material types varied.
Microplastic contamination of the oceans is one of the world’s most pressing environmental concerns. The terrestrial component of the global microplastic budget is not well understood because sources, stores and fluxes are poorly quantified. We report catchment-wide patterns of microplastic contamination, classified by type, size and density, in channel bed sediments at 40 sites across urban, suburban and rural river catchments in northwest England. Microplastic contamination was pervasive on all river channel beds. We found multiple urban contamination hotspots with a maximum microplastic concentration of approximately 517,000 particles m−2. After a period of severe flooding in winter 2015/16, all sites were resampled. Microplastic concentrations had fallen at 28 sites and 18 saw a decrease of one order of magnitude. The flooding exported approximately 70% of the microplastic load stored on these river beds (equivalent to 0.85 ± 0.27 tonnes or 43 ± 14 billion particles) and eradicated microbead contamination at 7 sites. We conclude that microplastic contamination is efficiently flushed from river catchments during flooding.
Microplastics are widespread throughout aquatic environments. However, there is currently insufficient understanding of the factors influencing ingestion of microplastics by organisms, especially higher predators such as fish. In this study we link ingestion of microplastics by the roach Rutilus rutilus, within the non-tidal part of the River Thames, to exposure and physiological factors. Microplastics were found within the gut contents of roach from six out of seven sampling sites. Of sampled fish, 33% contained at least one microplastic particle. The majority of particles were fibres (75%), with fragments and films also seen (22.7% and 2.3% respectively). Polymers identified were polyethylene, polypropylene and polyester, in addition to a synthetic dye. The maximum number of ingested microplastic particles for individual fish was strongly correlated to exposure (based on distance from the source of the river). Additionally, at a given exposure, the size of fish correlated with the actual quantity of microplastics in the gut. Larger (mainly female) fish were more likely to ingest the maximum possible number of particles than smaller (mainly male) fish. This study is the first to show microplastic ingestion within freshwater fish in the UK and provides valuable new evidence of the factors influencing ingestion that can be used to inform future studies on exposure and hazard of microplastics to fish.
High density polyethylene (HDPE) degradation has been studied. In this study, HDPE was incorporated with manganese laurate, manganese palmitate and manganese stearate as pro-oxidant additives. Preparation of samples were conducted by adding the HDPE resin with pro-oxidant additives in the range of 0-1.0 wt %. A twin screw extruder was employed prior to the injection molding technique. Samples were subjected to natural weathering for the maximum duration of 24 weeks. Assessments on the change of the properties of samples after natural weathering treatment were conducted by FTIR analysis, tensile testing and average molecular weight analysis. In term of their capabilities to accelerate degradation of HDPE, manganese stearate exhibited more influence than manganese laurate and manganese palmitate. The carbonyl group’s peak arises as a result of oxidation during the treatment as revealed by FTIR traces. Samples with pro-oxidant additives shows a loss of their strain at break. The amount of pro-oxidant additives increases the degradation of samples.
There is a paucity of information about the occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in edible fish tissues. Here, we investigated the potential presence of MPs in the excised organs (viscera and gills) and eviscerated flesh (whole fish excluding the viscera and gills) of four commonly consumed dried fish species (n = 30 per species). The MP chemical composition was then determined using micro-Raman spectroscopy and elemental analysis with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Out of 61 isolated particles, 59.0% were plastic polymers, 21.3% were pigment particles, 6.55% were non-plastic items (i.e. cellulose or actinolite), while 13.1% remained unidentified. The level of heavy metals on MPs or pigment particles were below the detection limit. Surprisingly, in two species, the eviscerated flesh contained higher MP loads than the excised organs, which highlights that evisceration does not necessarily eliminate the risk of MP intake by consumers. Future studies are encouraged to quantify anthropogenic particle loads in edible fish tissues.
Plastic production continues to increase as most developed and developing countries
continue to adopt the use-and-dispose culture, while some try to implement
regulations in the production and recycling of these materials. This high production
associated with their durability, unsustainable use, and inappropriate waste
management contributes to the introduction and extensive accumulation of plastic
debris in natural habitats. Microplastics are of emerging concern, but the amount
of research done in freshwater environments is nothing compared to that in marine
environments. Following this reality, we seek to investigate the occurrence of these
contaminants in freshwater fish and what are the possible impacts to these aquatic
species and human beings, since we have a tight relation to this resource.
Plastics in the marine environment have become a major concern because of their persistence at sea, and adverse consequences to marine life and potentially human health. Implementing mitigation strategies requires an understanding and quantification of marine plastic sources, taking spatial and temporal variability into account. Here we present a global model of plastic inputs from rivers into oceans based on waste management, population density and hydrological information. Our model is calibrated against measurements available in the literature. We estimate that between 1.15 and 2.41 million tonnes of plastic waste currently enters the ocean every year from rivers, with over 74% of emissions occurring between May and October. The top 20 polluting rivers, mostly located in Asia, account for 67% of the global total. The findings of this study provide baseline data for ocean plastic mass balance exercises, and assist in prioritizing future plastic debris monitoring and mitigation strategies.
The Mediterranean Sea is greatly affected by marine litter. In this area, research on the impact of plastic debris (including microplastics) on biota, particularly large filter-feeding species such as the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), is still in its infancy. We investigated the possible overlap between microplastic, mesoplastic and macrolitter accumulation areas and the fin whale feeding grounds in in a pelagic Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI): the Pelagos Sanctuary. Models of ocean circulation and fin whale potential habitat were merged to compare marine litter accumulation with the presence of whales. Additionally, field data on microplastics, mesoplastics, and macrolitter abundance and cetacean presence were simultaneously collected. The resulting data were compared, as a multi-layer, with the simulated distribution of plastic concentration and the whale habitat model. These data showed a high occurrence of microplastics (mean: 0.082 items/m 2 , STD ± 0.079 items/m 2) spatial distribution agreed with our modeling results. Areas with high microplastic density significantly overlapped with areas of high macroplastic density. The most abundant polymer detected in all the sampling sites was polyethylene (PE), suggesting fragmentation of larger packaging items as the primary source. To our knowledge, this is the first study in the Pelagos Sanctuary in which the simulated microplastic distribution has been confirmed by field observations. The overlap between the fin whale feeding habitat and the microplastic hot spots is an important contribution for risk assessment of fin whale exposure to microplastics.
Significance
The isolation of remote islands has, until recently, afforded protection from most human activities. However, society’s increasing desire for plastic products has resulted in plastic becoming ubiquitous in the marine environment, where it persists for decades. We provide a comprehensive analysis of the quantity and source of beach-washed plastic debris on one of the world’s remotest islands. The density of debris was the highest recorded anywhere in the world, suggesting that remote islands close to oceanic plastic accumulation zones act as important sinks for some of the waste accumulated in these areas. As global plastic production continues to increase exponentially, it will further impact the exceptional natural beauty and biodiversity for which remote islands have been recognized.
Microplastics have been documented in marine environments worldwide, where they pose a potential risk to biota. Environmental interactions between microplastics and lower trophic organisms are poorly understood. Coastal shelf seas are rich in productivity but also experience high levels of microplastic pollution. In these habitats, fish have an important ecological and economic role. In their early life stages, planktonic fish larvae are vulnerable to pollution, environmental stress and predation. Here we assess the occurrence of microplastic ingestion in wild fish larvae. Fish larvae and water samples were taken across three sites (10, 19 and 35 km from shore) in the western English Channel from April to June 2016. We identified 2.9% of fish larvae (n = 347) had ingested microplastics, of which 66% were blue fibres; ingested microfibers closely resembled those identified within water samples. With distance from the coast, larval fish density increased significantly (P < 0.05), while waterborne microplastic concentrations (P < 0.01) and incidence of ingestion decreased. This study provides baseline ecological data illustrating the correlation between waterborne microplastics and the incidence of ingestion in fish larvae.
The analysis of imaging data derived from micro-Fourier transform infrared (μFTIR) microscopy is a powerful tool allowing the analysis of microplastics enriched on membrane filters. In this study we present an automated approach to reduce the time demand currently needed for data analyses. We developed a novel analysis pipeline, based on the OPUS© Software by Bruker, followed by image analysis with Python and Simple ITK image processing modules. By using this newly developed pipeline it was possible to analyse datasets from focal plane array (FPA) μFTIR mapping of samples containing up to 1.8 million single spectra. All spectra were compared against a database of different synthetic and natural polymers by various routines followed by benchmark tests with focus on accuracy and quality. The spectral correlation was optimized for high quality data generation, which allowed image analysis. Based on these results an image analysis approach was developed, providing information on particle numbers and sizes for each polymer detected. It was possible to collect all data with relative ease even for complex sample matrices. This approach significantly decreases the time demand for the interpretation of complex FTIR-imaging data and significantly increases the data quality.
Plastic pollution is a growing global concern. In the present study, we investigated plastic pollution in 21 species of sea fish and 6 species of freshwater fish from China. All of the species were found to ingest micro- or mesoplastics. The average abundance of microplastics varied from 1.1 to 7.2 items by individual and 0.2–17.2 items by gram. The average abundance of mesoplastics varied from 0.2 to 3.0 items by individual and 0.1–3.9 items by gram. Microplastics were abundant in 26 species, accounting for 55.9–92.3% of the total number of plastics items in each species. Thamnaconus septentrionalis contained the highest abundance of microplastics (7.2 items/individual). The average abundance of plastics in sea benthopelagic fishes was significantly higher than in freshwater benthopelagic fishes by items/individual. The plastics were dominanted by fiber in shape, transparent in color and cellophane in composition. The proportion of plastics in the stomach to the intestines showed great variation in different species, ranging from 0.5 to 1.9 by items/individual. The stomach of Harpodon nehereus and intestines of Pampus cinereus contained the highest number of plastics, (3.3) and (2.7), respectively, by items/individual. Our results suggested that plastic pollution was widespread in the investigated fish species and showed higher abundance in comparison with worldwide studies. The ingestion of plastics in fish was closely related to the habitat and gastrointestinal tract structure. We highly recommend that the entire gastrointestinal tract and digestion process be used in future investigations of plastic pollution in fish.
We investigated microplastics in the digestive tracts of 64 Japanese anchovy (Engraulis japonicus) sampled in Tokyo Bay. Plastic was detected in 49 out of 64 fish (77%), with 2.3 pieces on average and up to 15 pieces per individual. All of the plastics were identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Most were polyethylene (52.0%) or polypropylene (43.3%). Most of the plastics were fragments (86.0%), but 7.3% were beads, some of which were microbeads, similar to those found in facial cleansers. Eighty percent of the plastics ranged in size from 150 μm to 1000 μm, smaller than the reported size range of floating microplastics on the sea surface, possibly because the subsurface foraging behavior of the anchovy reflected the different size distribution of plastics between surface waters and subsurface waters. Engraulis spp. are important food for many humans and other organisms around the world. Our observations further confirm that microplastics have infiltrated the marine ecosystem, and that humans may be exposed to them. Because microplastics retain hazardous chemicals, increase in fish chemical exposure by the ingested plastics is of concern. Such exposure should be studied and compared with that in the natural diet.
Microplastic contamination in the African Great Lakes is currently unreported, and compared to other regions of the world little is known about the occurrence of microplastics in African waters and their fauna. The present study was conducted in the Mwanza region of Tanzania, located on the southern shore of Lake Victoria. The gastrointestinal tracts of locally fished Nile perch (Lates niloticus) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were examined for plastics. Plastics were confirmed in 20% of fish from each species by Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. A variety of polymer types were identified with likely sources being urban waste and consumer use. Although further research is required to fully assess the impact of plastic pollution in this region, our study is the first to report the presence of microplastics in Africa's Great Lakes and within the fish species that inhabit them.
Plastic, as a form of marine litter, is found in varying quantities and sizes around the globe from surface waters to deep-sea sediments. Identifying patterns of microplastic distribution will benefit an understanding of the scale of their potential effect on the environment and organisms. As sea ice extent is reducing in the Arctic, heightened shipping and fishing activity may increase marine pollution in the area. Microplastics may enter the region following ocean transport and local input, although baseline contamination measurements are still required. Here we present the first study of microplastics in Arctic waters, south and southwest of Svalbard, Norway. Microplastics were found in surface (top 16cm) and sub-surface (6 depth) samples using two independent techniques. Origins and pathways bringing microplastic to the Arctic remain unclear. Particle composition (95% fibres) suggests they may either result from the breakdown of larger items (transported over large distances by prevailing currents, or derived from local vessel activity), or input in sewage and wastewater from coastal areas. Concurrent observations of high zooplankton abundance suggest a high probability for marine biota to encounter microplastics and a potential for trophic interactions. Further research is required to understand the effects of microplastic-biota interaction within this productive environment.
Microplastic pollution is a global issue. It is present even in remote and pristine coastal and
marine environments, likely causing impacts of unknown scale. Microplastics are primaryand
secondary-sourced plastics with diameters of 5 mm or less that are either free in the
water column or mixed in sandy and muddy sediments. Since the early 1970s, they have
been reported to pollute marine environments; recently, concern has increased as soaring
amounts of microplastics in the oceans were detected and because the development of
unprecedented processes involving this pollutant at sea are being unveiled. Coastal and
marine environments of the western tropical and sub-tropical Atlantic Ocean (WTAO) are
contaminated with microplastics at different quantities and from a variety of types. The
main environmental compartments (water, sediments and biota) are contaminated, but the
consequences are still poorly understood. Rivers and all scales of fishery activities are
identified as the most likely sources of this pollutant to coastal waters; however, based on
the types of microplastics observed, other maritime operations are also possible sources.
Ingestion by marine biota occurs in the vertebrate groups (fish, birds, and turtles) using
these environments. In addition, the presence of microplastics in plankton samples from
different habitats of estuaries and oceanic islands is confirmed. The connectivity among
environmental compartments regarding microplastics pollution is a new research frontier in
the region.
The ingestion of plastic fragments by 3 species of Gerreidae (Eugerres brasilianus, Eucinostomus melanopterus and Diapterus rhombeus) in a tropical estuary in Northeast Brazil was assessed for 3 different size classes corresponding to juveniles, sub-adults and adults. In all, 425 individuals were analysed. The gut contents of 13.4% of these individuals contained plastic debris. The only type of debris found was blue nylon fragments originating from ropes used in fishing. Artisanal fishing is the main local activity and was considered to represent the principal source of this marine debris. Significant differences in the number and weight of nylon fragments ingested were found between species and size classes. Moreover, a decrease in the weight of the gut contents was observed in the individuals that had ingested nylon fragments. In addition to the hypothesis that Gerreidae mistakenly identify nylon fragments as prey items, we propose 3 further possible pathways: (1) from fragments that the fishes' prey have already ingested; (2) through ingestion of fragments along with sediment that is sucked in during feeding; and (3) through ingestion of organisms that have aggregated on fragments.
