Microplastic in the gastrointestinal tract of fishes along the Saudi Arabian Red Sea coast

Abstract

This study assesses the presence of microplastic litter in the contents of the gastrointestinal tract of 26 commercial and non-commercial fish species from four difference habitats sampled along the Saudi Arabian coast of the Red Sea. A total of 178 individual were examined for microplastics. In total, 26 microplastic fragments were found. Of these, 16 being films (61.5%) and 10 being fishing thread (38.5%). FTIR analysis revealed that the most abundant polymers were polypropylene and polyethylene. The grouper (Epinephelus spp.) sampled at Jazan registered the highest number of ingested microplastics. This fish species is benthic and feeds on benthic invertebrates. Although differences in the abundance of microplastic ingestion among species were not statistically significant, a significant change was observed when the level of ingestion of microplastics particles was compared among the habitats. The higher abundance of microplastics particles may be related to the habitats of fish and the presence of microplastics debris near the seabed. The results of this study represent a first evidence that microplastic pollution represents an emerging threat to Red Sea fishes, their food web and human consumers.

Adhesion to coral surface as a potential sink for marine microplastics

“…Red Sea surface waters sustain one of the lowest concentrations of plastic and, similar to global 38 findings, fragments below 0.5 mm are reported to be missing (Martí et al, 2017). In pelagic 39 environments, vertebrates like mesopelagic fishes may play a major role in removing floating 40 microplastics (Boerger et al, 2010;Davison and Asch, 2011;Baalkhuyur et al, 2018). In coastal 41 and shallower waters, microplastics sunken and resuspended from the surface to the water body 42 are more easily available to benthos, particularly invertebrates, which are likely to be significant 43 contributors.…”

Potent Impact of Plastic Nanomaterials and Micromaterials on the Food Chain and Human Health

“…Crustaceans, such as the Japanese shore crab [60] and North Pacific krill [61], contain microplastics and nanoplastics. Sea fish, such as the northeastern Pacific Ocean forage fishes [62], areolate grouper and goldbanded jobfish, are contaminated with microplastics [63]. Oysters ingest polystyrene microplastics, which affect their reproduction [64].…”

Understanding How Microplastics Affect Marine Biota on the Cellular Level Is Important for Assessing Ecosystem Function: A Review

“…The time a particle spends inside the body (i.e., the retention time) is crucial for estimating chemical exchanges within the body. Many studies investigate the occurrence of plastic within the intestinal tract of an organism without discussing an impact on the animal itself (Boerger et al 2010;Lusher et al 2013;Battaglia et al 2016;Rummel et al 2016;Baalkhuyur et al 2018). Yet, a wealth of studies identify effects of microplastic with artificial concentrations that are far beyond natural levels as currently encountered in the ocean Lusher et al 2017;Critchell and Hoogenboom 2018).…”