The prevalence and potential implications of microplastic contamination in marine fishes from Xiamen Bay, China

Lili Wei; Daling Wang; Reyilamu Aierken; Fuxing Wu; Yufei Dai; Xianyan Wang; Chao Fang; Liyuan Zhao; Yu Zhen

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113306

The prevalence and potential implications of microplastic contamination in marine fishes from Xiamen Bay, China

Mar Pollut Bull. 2022 Jan:174:113306. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113306. Epub 2022 Jan 7.

Authors

Lili Wei¹, Daling Wang², Reyilamu Aierken³, Fuxing Wu³, Yufei Dai³, Xianyan Wang³, Chao Fang³, Liyuan Zhao⁴, Yu Zhen⁵

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ocean University of China, Ministry of Education, Qingdao 266100, China; Laboratory of Marine Biology and Ecology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao 266237, China.
² Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ocean University of China, Ministry of Education, Qingdao 266100, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao 266237, China.
³ Laboratory of Marine Biology and Ecology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China.
⁴ Laboratory of Marine Biology and Ecology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China. Electronic address: zhaoliyuan@tio.org.cn.
⁵ Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ocean University of China, Ministry of Education, Qingdao 266100, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao 266237, China. Electronic address: zhenyu@ouc.edu.cn.

PMID: 35090291
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113306

Abstract

The wide presence of microplastics (MPs) in the ocean leads their exposure on marine fish. MP contamination was reported for the gastrointestinal tracts and gills of 117 marine fishes attributed to nine species from Xiamen Bay, a special economic zone in China. Among species, MP abundance ranged from 1.07 items individual^-1 to 8.00 items individual ^-1. Fibers dominated MP shapes, accounting for 59.03% of all MPs. Polymer composition was dominated by polyamide (26.97%) and rayon (17.56%). MPs were most commonly (55.22%) transparent, and most (77.61%) were < 1 mm in size. Our report represents the first of MP contamination in wild marine fish from Xiamen Bay, which we determine to be at an intermediate to slightly higher level compared with levels reported elsewhere, and provides further insights into potential risks of MPs pose to fish and human health.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal tract; Gill; Microplastics; Wild fish; Xiamen Bay.

MeSH terms

Animals
Bays
Environmental Monitoring
Fishes
Humans
Microplastics*
Plastics
Prevalence
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Microplastics
Plastics
Water Pollutants, Chemical