Microplastic contamination and risk assessment in blue shark (Prionace glauca) from the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean

Xuemin Huang; Huachen Gao; Zezheng Li; Feng Wu; Yi Gong; Yunkai Li

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114138

Microplastic contamination and risk assessment in blue shark (Prionace glauca) from the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean

Mar Pollut Bull. 2022 Nov:184:114138. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114138. Epub 2022 Sep 24.

Authors

Xuemin Huang¹, Huachen Gao¹, Zezheng Li¹, Feng Wu², Yi Gong³, Yunkai Li⁴

Affiliations

¹ College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China.
² College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Sustainable Exploitation of Oceanic Fisheries Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China; National Engineering Research Centre for Oceanic Fisheries, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Oceanic Fisheries Exploration, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai, China.
³ College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Sustainable Exploitation of Oceanic Fisheries Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China; National Engineering Research Centre for Oceanic Fisheries, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Oceanic Fisheries Exploration, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: ygong@shou.edu.cn.
⁴ College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Sustainable Exploitation of Oceanic Fisheries Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China; National Engineering Research Centre for Oceanic Fisheries, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Oceanic Fisheries Exploration, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: ykli@shou.edu.cn.

PMID: 36162290
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114138

Abstract

We quantified the abundance and characteristics of microplastics in the blue shark, Prionace glauca, found in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean and investigated the potential microplastic pollution risks. Microplastics (MPs) were detected in 39.1 % of specimens, up to 0.15 ± 0.38 items/g wet weight of the posterior part of the pylorus, and were sized 45.87 to 3220.12 μm. The majority were fibrous in shape (83.3 %) and blue in color (72.2 %). Both sexes of sharks had similar MP abundance and characteristics, except for polymers, with polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene representing the dominant type in males and females, respectively. Most individuals experienced low pollution, but one male P. glauca exhibited a high ecological risk level owing to the high MP abundance and detection of polyvinyl chloride. This study provides an important baseline for the ingestion of microplastics by pelagic shark species and is a preliminary quantitative measure that could be used in future studies of the risk of MPs.

Keywords: Blue shark; Eastern tropical Pacific Ocean; Microplastic; Risk assessment.

MeSH terms

Animals
Environmental Monitoring
Female
Male
Microplastics
Pacific Ocean
Plastics
Polyethylene Terephthalates
Polypropylenes
Polyvinyl Chloride
Risk Assessment
Sharks*
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Microplastics
Plastics
Polyvinyl Chloride
Polyethylene Terephthalates
Polypropylenes
Water Pollutants, Chemical