Microplastics in the edible tissues of shellfishes sold for human consumption

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 2021-02, Vol.264 (Pt 2), p.128554, Article 128554
• Main Authors: Daniel, Damaris Benny, Ashraf, P. Muhamed, Thomas, Saly N., Thomson, K.T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Environmental Monitoring; Human health; Humans; India; Marine debris; Microplastics; Plastic pollution; Plastics; Seafood - analysis; Seafood safety; Shellfish; Shellfish - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128554

Microplastics in seafood are an emerging area of seafood safety concern. In this study, we investigated the presence of microplastics (100 μm – 5 mm) in the edible tissues of four species of shellfishes - two species of shrimp, Metapenaeus dobsoni and Fenneropenaeus indicus; one species of crab, Portunus pelagicus; and one species of squid Uroteuthis (Photololigo) duvaucelii -all bought from fishing harbours of Kerala, India. An average of 2.7 ± 12 microplastic particles kg−1 of edible tissue (wet weight) and 0.07 ± 0.3 microplastic particles/individual were obtained from the sampled shellfishes. No microplastics were found in the edible tissues of shrimps examined, while U. (P) duvaucelii had the highest microplastic content with an average of 7.7 ± 20 microplastic particles kg−1 of edible tissue, followed by P. pelagicus with an average of 3.2 ± 10 microplastic particles kg−1 of edible tissue. There was significant species variation in the microplastic contamination of shellfish soft tissues (p  11 μm in edible tissues of a squid species.•MPs were found in edible tissues of 18% of Indian squid, U·(P) duvaucelii.•Edible tissue of 13.3% of blue crab, P. pelagicus contained MPs.•No MPs >11 μm found in the edible tissues of shrimps, F. indicus and M. dobsonii.•Per capita microplastic intake estimated to be at 13 ± 58 MP/year.