https://doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2023.11032
Research and characterization of fibrous microplastics and natural microfibers in pelagic and benthic fish species of commercial interest
Submitted: 24 November 2022
Accepted: 1 February 2023
Published: 8 March 2023
Accepted: 1 February 2023
Abstract Views: 1768
PDF: 387
HTML: 7
HTML: 7
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Authors
The ingestion of synthetic microfibers, the most prevalent type of microplastics in marine environments, and natural fibers was assessed in Engraulis engrasicolus and Mullus barbatus, two commercially important fish species in the Mediterranean Sea. Microfibers were isolated from the fish gastrointestinal tract using a 10% potassium hydroxide solution. For the microfiber characterization, the evaluation of specific morphological features using a light microscope, coupled with the Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis of a subsample of isolated particles, was applied. The preliminary results showed the occurrence of microfibers in 53 and 60% of European anchovy and Red mullet, respectively. A mean of 6.9 microfibers/individual was detected in anchovies, while on average Red mullet samples contained 9.2 microfibers/individual. The most common colors of fibers in both species were black, blue, and transparent. Visual characterization of fibers allowed the classification of 40% of the items as synthetic microfibers. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the visual classification by fiber morphology. Microfibers were made of different typologies of polymers, represented by cellulose, cotton, and polyester. These findings confirm as the wide distribution of fibrous microplastics, and natural microfibers may impact both pelagic and deep-sea trophic webs. Despite the presence of microfibers in fish species poses a potential risk to human health, the literature is scarce regarding studies on the uptake by commercial marine fish mostly due to methodological issues. The visual characterization, corroborated by spectroscopic techniques, may be useful to differentiate synthetic and natural fibers, representing a fast and easy method to assess fibrous microplastic pollution in commercially important fish species.
Acharya S, Rumi SS, Hu Y, Abidi N, 2021. Microfibers from synthetic textiles as a major source of microplastics in the environment: A review. Text Res J 91(17-18), 2136-2156.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0040517521991244
Alberghini L, Truant A, Santonicola S, Colavita G, Giaccone V, 2023. Microplastics in Fish and Fishery Products and Risks for Human Health: A Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health 20(1), 789.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010789
Alomar C, Deudero, S, 2017. Evidence of microplastic ingestion in the shark Galeus melastomus Rafinesque, 1810 in the continental shelf off the western Mediterranean Sea. Environ Pollut 223, 223-229.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.01.015
Atamanalp M, Köktürk M, Uçar A, Duyar HA, Özdemir S, Parlak V, Alak G, 2021. Microplastics in tissues (brain, gill, muscle and gastrointestinal) of Mullus barbatus and Alosa immaculata. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 81(3), 460-469.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-021-00885-5
Avio CG, Gorbi S, Regoli F, 2015. Experimental development of a new protocol for extraction and characterization of microplastics in fish tissues: first observations in commercial species from Adriatic Sea. Mar Environ Res 111, 18-26.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2015.06.014
Avio CG, Pittura L, d’Errico G, Abel S, Amorello S, Marino G, Regoli F, 2020. Distribution and characterization of microplastic particles and textile microfibers in Adriatic food webs: General insights for biomonitoring strategies. Environ Pollut 258, 113766.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113766
Bacha M, Amara R, 2009. Spatial, temporal and ontogenetic variation in diet of anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) on the Algerian coast (SW Mediterranean). Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 85(2), 257-264.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2009.08.009
Bai CL, Liu LY, Hu YB, Zeng EY, Guo Y, 2022. Microplastics: A review of analytical methods, occurrence and characteristics in food, and potential toxicities to biota. Sci Total Environ 806, 150263.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150263
Bakir A, Van der Lingen CD, Preston-Whyte F, Bali A, Geja Y, Barry J, Maes T. 2020. Microplastics in commercially important small pelagic fish species from South Africa. Front Mar Sci 7, 574663
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.574663
Barboza LGA, Lopes C, Oliveira P, Bessa F, Otero V, Henriques B, Guilhermino L, 2020. Microplastics in wild fish from Northeast Atlantic Ocean and its potential for causing neurotoxic effects, lipid oxidative damage, and human health risks associated with ingestion exposure. Sci Total Environ 717, 134625.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134625
Bellas J, Martínez-Armental J, Martínez-Cámara A, Besada V, Martínez-Gómez C, 2016. Ingestion of microplastics by demersal fish from the Spanish Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. Mar pollut Bull 109(1), 55-60.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.06.026
Capillo G, Savoca S, Panarello G, Mancuso M, Branca C, Romano V, Spanò N, 2020. Quali-quantitative analysis of plastics and synthetic microfibers found in demersal species from Southern Tyrrhenian Sea (Central Mediterranean). Mar pollut Bull 150, 110596.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110596
Capó X, Morató M, Alomar C, Rios-Fuster B, Valls M, Compa M, Deudero S, 2022. A Biomarker Approach as Responses of Bioindicator Commercial Fish Species to Microplastic Ingestion: Assessing Tissue and Biochemical Relationships. Biology 11(11), 1634.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11111634
Capone A, Petrillo M, Misic C, 2020. Ingestion and elimination of anthropogenic fibres and microplastic fragments by the European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) of the NW Mediterranean Sea. Mar Biol 167(11), 1-15.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-020-03779-7
Carbonara P, Intini S, Modugno E, Maradonna F, Spedicato MT, Lembo G, Carnevali O, 2015. Reproductive biology characteristics of red mullet (Mullus barbatus L., 1758) in Southern Adriatic Sea and management implications. Aquat Living Resour 28(1), 21-31.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/alr/2015005
Cole M, Lindeque P, Halsband C, Galloway TS, 2011. Microplastics as contaminants in the marine environment: a review. Mar pollut Bull 62(12), 2588-2597.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.09.025
Collard F, Gilbert B, Compère P, Eppe G, Das K, Jauniaux T, Parmentier E, 2017. Microplastics in livers of European anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus, L.). Environ pollut 229, 1000-1005.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.07.089
Compa M, Ventero A, Iglesias M, Deudero S, 2018. Ingestion of microplastics and natural fibres in Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum, 1792) and Engraulis encrasicolus (Linnaeus, 1758) along the Spanish Mediterranean coast. Mar pollut bull 128, 89-96.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.01.009
De Falco F, Gullo MP, Gentile G, Di Pace E, Cocca M, Gelabert L, Avella M, 2018. Evaluation of microplastic release caused by textile washing processes of synthetic fabrics. Environ Pollut 236, 916-925.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.10.057
Digka N, Tsangaris C, Torre M, Anastasopoulou A, Zeri C, 2018. Microplastics in mussels and fish from the Northern Ionian Sea. Mar Pollut Bull 135, 30-40.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.06.063
Foekema EM, De Gruijter C, Mergia MT, van Franeker JA, Murk AJ, Koelmans AA, 2013. Plastic in North Sea fish. Environ Sci Technol 47(15), 8818-8824.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/es400931b
Fossi MC, Pedà C, Compa M, Tsangaris C, Alomar C, Claro F, Baini M, 2018. Bioindicators for monitoring marine litter ingestion and its impacts on Mediterranean biodiversity. Environ Pollut 237, 1023-1040.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.11.019
Gago J, Carretero O, Filgueiras AV, Viñas L, 2018. Synthetic microfibers in the marine environment: A review on their occurrence in seawater and sediments. Mar pollut Bull 127, 365-376.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.11.070
Giani D, Baini M, Galli M, Casini S, Fossi MC, 2019. Microplastics occurrence in edible fish species (Mullus barbatus and Merluccius merluccius) collected in three different geographical sub-areas of the Mediterranean Sea. Mar pollut bull 140, 129-137.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.01.005
Güven O, Gökdağ K, Jovanović B, Kıdeyş AE, 2017. Microplastic litter composition of the Turkish territorial waters of the Mediterranean Sea, and its occurrence in the gastrointestinal tract of fish. Environ Pollut 223, 286-294.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.01.025
Hernandez E, Nowack B, Mitrano DM, 2017. Polyester textiles as a source of microplastics from households: a mechanistic study to understand microfiber release during washing. Environ Sci Technol 51(12), 7036-7046.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b01750
Hope JA, Coco G, Thrush SF, 2020. Effects of polyester microfibers on microphytobenthos and sediment-dwelling infauna. Environ Sci Technol 54(13), 7970-7982.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c00514
Özbilgin H, Tosunoğlu Z, Tokaç A, Metin G, 2011. Seasonal variation in the trawl codend selectivity of red mullet (Mullus barbatus). Turkish J Fish Aquat Sci 11(2), 191-198.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0426.2011.01920.x
Li Y, Lu Q, Xing Y, Liu K, Ling W, Yang J, Zhao D, 2022. Review of research on migration, distribution, biological effects, and analytical methods of microfibers in the environment. Sci Total Environ 158922.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158922
Mercogliano R, Avio CG, Regoli F, Anastasio A, Colavita G, Santonicola S, 2020. Occurrence of microplastics in commercial seafood under the perspective of the human food chain. A review. J Agric Food Chem 68(19), 5296-5301.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.0c01209
Mishra S, charan Rath C, Das AP, 2019. Marine microfiber pollution: a review on present status and future challenges. Mar Pollut Bull, 140, 188-197.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.01.039
Ningrum EWN, Patria MP, 2022. Microplastic contamination in Indonesian anchovies from fourteen locations. Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity, 23(1).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d230116
Rios-Fuster B, Compa M, Alomar C, Fagiano V, Ventero A, Iglesias M, Deudero S, 2022. Ubiquitous vertical distribution of microfibers within the upper epipelagic layer of the western Mediterranean Sea. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci, 266, 107741.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2022.107741
Robertson J, Roux C, Wiggins KG, 2017. Forensic Examination of Fibres. Third edition. Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, Florida.
Rodríguez-Romeu O, Constenla M, Carrassón M, Campoy-Quiles M, Soler-Membrives, A, 2020. Are anthropogenic fibres a real problem for red mullets (Mullus barbatus) from the NW Mediterranean? Sci Total Environ, 733, 139336.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139336
Sanchez-Vidal A, Thompson RC, Canals M, De Haan WP, 2018. The imprint of microfibres in southern European deep seas. PloS one, 13(11), e0207033.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0207033
Santonicola S, Volgare M, Di Pace E, Cocca M, Mercogliano R, Colavita G, 2021. Occurrence of potential plastic microfibers in mussels and anchovies sold for human consumption: Preliminary results. Ital J Food Saf, 10(4).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2021.9962
Savoca S, Capillo G, Mancuso M, Bottari T, Crupi R, Branca C, Spanò N, 2019. Microplastics occurrence in the Tyrrhenian waters and in the gastrointestinal tract of two congener species of seabreams. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 67, 35-41.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2019.01.011
Sillanpaa M, Sainio P, 2017. Release of polyester and cotton fibers from textiles in machine washings. Environ Sci Pollut Res, 24: 19313–19321.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9621-1
Thiele CJ, Hudson MD, Russell AE, Saluveer M, Sidaoui-Haddad G, 2021. Microplastics in fish and fishmeal: an emerging environmental challenge?. Sci rep 11(1), 1-12.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-81499-8
Torre M, Digka N, Anastasopoulou A, Tsangaris C, Mytilineou C, 2016. Anthropogenic microfibers pollution in marine biota. A new simple methodology to minimize airborne contamination. Mar Pollut Bull 113, 55–61.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.07.050
Volgare M, Santonicola S, Cocca M, Avolio R, Castaldo R, Errico ME, Gentile G, Raimo G, Gasperi M, Colavita G, 2022. A versatile approach to evaluate the occurrence of microfibers in mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis. Sci Rep 12(1), 1-10.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-25631-2
Wang Q, Zhu X, Hou C, Wu Y, Teng J, Zhang, 2021. Microplastic uptake in commercial fishes from the Bohai Sea. China. Chemosphere 263:127962.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127962
Wang S, Zhang C, Pan Z, Sun D, Zhou A, Xie S, 2020. Microplastics in wild freshwater fish of different feeding habits from Beijiang and Pearl River Delta regions, south China. Chemosphere, 258, 127345
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127345
Zhu X, Nguyen B, You JB, Karakolis E, Sinton D, Rochman, C, 2019. Identification of microfibers in the environment using multiple lines of evidence. Environ Scie Technol 53(20), 11877-11887.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b05262
How to Cite
1.
Santonicola S, Volgare M, Di Pace E, Mercogliano R, Cocca M, Raimo G, Colavita G. Research and characterization of fibrous microplastics and natural microfibers in pelagic and benthic fish species of commercial interest. Ital J Food Safety [Internet]. 2023 Mar. 8 [cited 2024 Oct. 25];12(1). Available from: https://www.pagepressjournals.org/ijfs/article/view/11032
Copyright (c) 2023 the Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
PAGEPress has chosen to apply the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) to all manuscripts to be published.