Microplastic ingestion by pelagic and demersal fish species from the Eastern Central Atlantic Ocean, off the Coast of Ghana

Stella Aseye Adika; Edem Mahu; Richard Crane; Rob Marchant; Judith Montford; Regina Folorunsho; Christopher Gordon

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.110998

Microplastic ingestion by pelagic and demersal fish species from the Eastern Central Atlantic Ocean, off the Coast of Ghana

Mar Pollut Bull. 2020 Apr:153:110998. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.110998. Epub 2020 Feb 22.

Authors

Stella Aseye Adika¹, Edem Mahu², Richard Crane³, Rob Marchant⁴, Judith Montford⁵, Regina Folorunsho⁶, Christopher Gordon⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, University of Ghana, Ghana.
² Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, University of Ghana, Ghana. Electronic address: emahu@ug.edu.gh.
³ College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
⁴ York Institute of Tropical Ecosystems, Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, York YO10 5NG, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
⁵ Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
⁶ Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research, Nigeria.
⁷ Institute of Environment and Sanitation Studies, University of Ghana, Ghana.

PMID: 32275547
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.110998

Abstract

We present data on the occurrence of microplastics in fish from the Guinea current region off Ghana's Coast. Frequency of occurrence of microplastics in the fish species followed the order: Sardinella maderensis (41%) > Dentex angolensis > (33%) > Sardinella aurita (26%). Mean numbers of microplastics ingested were 40.0 ± 3.8, 32.0 ± 2.7 and 25.7 ± 1.6 for S. maderensis, D. angolensis and S. aurita respectively. Industrially produced pellets were the most dominant (31%) microplastic type followed by microbeads (29%), burnt film plastics (22%) and unidentified fragments (9%). Microfibers (2%), threads (2%) and foams (<0.1%) were the least occurring microplastics in the fish species. Condition factors estimated for D. angolensis and S. aurita were >1 and below 1 for S. maderensis. The findings of the study show the common occurrence of microplastics in fish stocks and pave the way for future studies on microplastics in this Region.

Keywords: Guinea current plastic pollution.

MeSH terms

Animals
Atlantic Ocean
Environmental Monitoring*
Fishes*
Ghana
Microplastics*
Plastics
Water Pollutants, Chemical*

Substances

Microplastics
Plastics
Water Pollutants, Chemical