Occurrence, abundance and characteristics of microplastics in some commercial fish of northern coasts of the Persian Gulf

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2021-10, Vol.171, p.112693, Article 112693
• Main Authors: Hosseinpour, Ali, Chamani, Atefeh, Mirzaei, Rouhollah, Mohebbi-Nozar, Seyedeh Laili
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abundance; Colour; Contamination; Demersal fish; Digestive system; Fish; Gastrointestinal tract; Iran; Liver; Marine debris; Microplastic; Microplastics; Muscles; Pelagic fish; Plastic pollution; Quality control; Thunnus tonggol; Tissue
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112693

This study assessed the abundance of microplastics (MPs) in muscle, liver, gill, and gastrointestinal tissues of 14 fish species from the Persian Gulf. The quality control showed no significant difference in MPs abundance between blank samples and muscle and liver tissues. The mean abundance of MPs accumulated in gill and gut was 2.85 ± 1.57 and 2.46 ± 1.46 pa/individual, respectively. The maximum mean abundance of MPs was observed in the gill (5.71 pa/ind) of the fish Thunnus tonggol and gut tissue (5.67 pa/ind) of the fish Sphyraena putnamiae. Fiber, black color and size of 23–75 μm were the predominant form of MPs. There was a significant positive correlation between the total fish length and the abundance of MPs. MPs were more abundant in pelagic fish (5.79 ± 5.98) than demersal fish species (3.89 ± 3.53). The level of fish contamination with MPs was low to moderate in comparison to the ranges reported in the literature. [Display omitted] •MP abundances were determined in tissues of 14 fish species of the Persian Gulf.•The QC/QA only confirmed the occurrence of MPS in gut and gill tissues.•Fiber, black color, and size less than 75 μm were the predominant forms of MPs.•The abundance of MPs in pelagic fish tissues was higher than demersal fish.