High microplastics concentration in liver is negatively associated with condition factor in the Benguela hake Merluccius polli

Daniel Menéndez; Carmen Blanco-Fernandez; Gonzalo Machado-Schiaffino; Alba Ardura; Eva Garcia-Vazquez

doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115135

High microplastics concentration in liver is negatively associated with condition factor in the Benguela hake Merluccius polli

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2023 Jun 12:262:115135. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115135. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Daniel Menéndez¹, Carmen Blanco-Fernandez¹, Gonzalo Machado-Schiaffino¹, Alba Ardura¹, Eva Garcia-Vazquez²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Functional Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oviedo, C/ Julian Claveria s/n, 33006 Oviedo, Spain.
² Department of Functional Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oviedo, C/ Julian Claveria s/n, 33006 Oviedo, Spain. Electronic address: egv@uniovi.es.

PMID: 37320916
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115135

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) affect both marine and terrestrial biota worldwide for their harmful effects, which range from physical cell damage to physiological deterioration. In this research, microplastics were quantified from gills, liver and muscle of demersal Benguela hakes Merluccius polli (n = 94), caught by commercial trawling from northwest African waters. Plastic polymers were identified using Fourier Transformed-infraRed spectroscopy (FT-iR). Fulton's k condition factor and the degree of DNA degradation in liver were measured. None of the individuals were free of MPs, whose concentration ranged from 0.18 particles/g in muscle to 0.6 in liver. Four hazardous polymers were identified: 2-ethoxyethylmethacrylate, polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, and poly-acrylics. MP concentration in liver was correlated negatively with the condition factor, suggesting physiological damage. Positive association of MP concentration and liver DNA degradation was explained from cell breakage during trawl hauls during decompression, suggesting an additional way of MPs harm in organisms inhabiting at great depth. This is the first report of potential MPs-driven damage in this species; more studies are recommended to understand the impact of MP pollution on demersal species.

Keywords: African waters; Condition factor; DNA degradation; Merluccius polli; Microplastics.