Plastics occurrence in juveniles of Engraulis encrasicolus and Sardina pilchardus in the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea

We report the presence of microplastics on the external surface and in the gastrointestinal tract of white late-larval and juvenile stages (fry) of clupeid fishes caught in the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea. The average highest number of plastics debris was recorded on Sardina pilchardus (0.53 items/speci...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Science of the total environment 2020-05, Vol.718, p.137457-137457, Article 137457
Main Authors: Savoca, Serena, Bottari, Teresa, Fazio, Enza, Bonsignore, Martina, Mancuso, Monique, Luna, Gian Marco, Romeo, Teresa, D'Urso, Luisa, Capillo, Gioele, Panarello, Giuseppe, Greco, Silvestro, Compagnini, Giuseppe, Lanteri, Giovanni, Crupi, Rosalia, Neri, Fortunato, Spanò, Nunziacarla
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anchovy
Animals
Environmental Monitoring
Fishes
Food Chain
FTIR
Larva
Microplastics
Plastics
Raman
Sardine
Tyrrhenian Sea
Water Pollutants, Chemical
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Summary:We report the presence of microplastics on the external surface and in the gastrointestinal tract of white late-larval and juvenile stages (fry) of clupeid fishes caught in the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea. The average highest number of plastics debris was recorded on Sardina pilchardus (0.53 items/specimen); a lower average number of items was observed for Engraulis encrasicolus (0.26 items/specimen). The plastics were characterized by fibers that differed in shape, colour and composition. Polyester, polypropylene, polyacrylonitrile, polyethylene, polyamide, nylon, rayon and polyurethane segments were detected by Raman and FTIR spectroscopies. Traces of organic components and dyes, compounds that are generally included in the polymer matrix to modify its base properties, were also identified on microplastics. Our results raise concerns for the potential transfer of synthetic materials through the marine food web and into humans, given the prominent role of S. pilchardus and E. encrasicolus within the food web as main food source for many marine species. [Display omitted] •MPs were found in juveniles of Clupeid fishes from Tyrrhenian Sea.•The most of plastics appeared in fibers shapes.•Raman and FTIR highlighted Polyester, PP, PAN, PE, PA, nylon, rayon and PUR presence.
ISSN:0048-9697
1879-1026
DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137457