Occurrence, characteristics and distribution of microplastics in commercial marine fishes of the Bay of Bengal

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2024-11, Vol.208, p.117020, Article 117020
• Main Authors: Mondal, Pronoy, Hoque, Md. Sazedul, Rahman, Md. Arifur, Hasan, Md. Mahmudul, Chakma, Suprakash, Islam, Muhammad Saiful, Shahjahan, Md
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bangladesh; Bay of Bengal; Marine fish; Microplastics; Seafood supply chain
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117020

The study aimed to assess and characterize microplastics (MPs) in muscles, guts, and gills of six commercially important marine fish from the Bay of Bengal. FTIR was utilized to identify MP's polymer compositions. A total 7085 MPs identified, where tuna exhibited the highest count and Bombay duck had the lowest. MPs abundance (MPs/g) was ranged from 1.56 ± 0.39 to 7.16 ± 1.36 in muscles, 1.91 ± 0.32 to 4.46 ± 0.75 in guts, and 2.36 ± 0.24 to 6.53 ± 1.58 in gills. The predominant MPs were 1–5 mm size (33.33–62.78 %), white/transparent color (18.45–54.63 %), filament shapes (75.00–94.71), and fiber types (73.21–94.71 %). FTIR revealed MPs 58.89 % polyethylene, 21.67 % polypropylene, 17.22 % polyester, and 2.22 % non-plastic compositions. Cluster analysis grouped two species with 50 % similarity, while PCA indicated significant variations among principal components (14–69.4 %) highlighting the dominance of fiber, particles, and 0.5–1.0 mm MPs in the fish tissues. The prevalence of MPs in seafood underscores measures to safeguard both the marine ecosystem and human health. •Extent of MPs varied on species, sources and feeding behaviors of marine fish.•Tuna exhibited the highest concentration of MPs and Bombay duck the lowest.•MPs in muscle tissues are remarkably compatible with MPs in guts and gills.•Color, size, shape and morphology of MPs significantly assorted on fish species.•FTIR identified higher polyethylene followed by polypropylene and polyester compositions.