Identification, Interaction and Detection of Microplastics on Fish Scales (Lutjanus gibbus)

Abstract

Background: Microplastics are found to be one of the major emerging contaminants in the environment. Various environmental occurrences cause the macro plastics to degrade slowly into microplastics. Microplastics present in the water bodies may enter into the fish’s body through ingestion of food and also get adsorbed onto the surface of their gills or skin. Objective: Microplastics of polyethylene were chosen to investigate its sorption capacity on fish scales. Dispersion of polyethylene microplastics was studied by using Total dissolved solids meter. Using this dispersion, the sorption effect was studied and it revealed that the microplastics has the sorption ability on the fish scales. Method: Polyethylene microplastics were chosen to investigate its sorption capacity on fish scales of Lutjanus gibbus. The sorption effect of microplastics on fish scales were performed by using polyethylene microplastics obtained by bath sonication and the concentration was studied using Total dissolved solids meter. Using polyethylene microplastics dispersion, the sorption effect was carried out on the scales of Lutjanus gibbus for ten days at 8 oC. Sorption of microplastics on fish scales were characterized by FE-SEM, FT-IR, and Raman spectroscopy. Results: Polymer sorption was confirmed by using optical microscopy and FE-SEM. FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the existence of polyethylene microplastics on the fish scale. Moreover, polyethylene microplastics sorption studies were also studied in different pH, various concentrations of NaCl and at different time intervals. Conclusions: We have synthesized microplastics from the bulk polyethylene by NaCl solution. This study confirmed the successful sorption of polyethylene microplastics on the fish scale. Our study revealed that marine water may be a suitable medium to facilitate the polymer sorption on aquatic animals/organisms.

Uncovering real-time interaction of polystyrene particles and cells from scales of Atlantic salmon by quantitative phase microscopy

“…On the other hand, global plastic production hit 400.3 million tons in 2022, contributing to 50 to 75 trillion plastic and microplastic particles, ranging in size from 100 nm to 5 mm, residing in the oceans [2]. The abundance of microplastics in the aquatic environment is a potential threat to Atlantic salmon aquaculture as they can enter the body of salmon via sorption through the skin [3]. The aquaculture industry extensively utilizes plastic materials, especially polystyrene (PS), and has contributed significantly to the amount of plastic waste in the ocean, which puts these plastics in even closer proximity to the fish.…”

“…The fish body, upon exposure to MPs, gives various responses, including immune-related gene expression, neurotoxicity, growth retardation, and behavioral malfunctions. In the human body, these MPs can cause oxidative stress, cytotoxicity, immune system disorder, and intertissue microplastic transfer [3]. Keratocytes in fish are one of the first lines of defense cells confronting foreign entities.…”

Polypropylene-Derived Luminescent Carbon Dots

“…The feasibility of preparing CDs from polyethylene glycol has received great interest in upcycling plastic waste into polymer-derived CDs, where the carbon element occupies the highest mass percentage. , Polyurethane (PU), polystyrene (PS), polylactide oligomers, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) − have also been shown to be precursors for CDs synthesis. Polyolefins, including polyethylene and polypropylene, are widely detected in our environment in the format of macro- and micro- plastics, which are capable of adhesion to aquatic organisms and of being consumed by humans . However, polyolefins are seldom studied for CDs synthesis due to their strong heat-resistance and stable chemical reactivity .…”