Microplastic contamination in giant tiger prawn and greasyback shrimp from Malaysian waters

Microplastic contamination in mauritanian marine ecosystems: evidence from fish and mussels

Microplastic pollution has emerged as a pervasive threat to marine ecosystems, yet data from the West African region, particularly the Mauritanian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), remain scarce. This study investigated the occurrence and polymer composition of microplastics in marine organisms occupying different trophic levels along the northern, central, and southern zones of the Mauritanian EEZ. A total of 45 fish specimens representing five species and 225 bivalves belonging to Donax rugosus and Perna were collected during offshore sampling campaigns. Organic matter was digested using hydrogen peroxide and potassium hydroxide, followed by stereomicroscopic examination and polymer identification using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR). Microplastics were detected in all investigated taxa, indicating widespread contamination across species and habitats. Filaments (fibers) were the dominant particle morphology, accounting for 60% of the detected particles, followed by fragments (25%) and other forms (15%). Black particles were the most common color category (45%), followed by transparent particles (25%). FTIR-ATR analysis identified eight polymer types, with polystyrene (PS) being the most abundant (25%), followed by ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA, 20.8%), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS, 16.7%), polyvinyl chloride (PVC, 12.5%), polyethylene terephthalate (PET, 8.3%), nitrile (8.3%), polypropylene (PP, 4.2%), and polycarbonate (PC, 4.2%). The occurrence of microplastics in commercially and ecologically important species highlights the need for systematic monitoring in the region. This study provides baseline data on microplastic contamination in Mauritanian marine biota and contributes to filling a critical knowledge gap in West African marine pollution research.

Tissue-specific distribution of microplastics in commercial crab Portunus segnis: a baseline data for sea-food security

Assessment of Microplastic Ingestion in Commercial Marine Fish From Cities of Sibu and Kuching, Eastern Sarawak, Malaysia

Microplastic (MP) pollution is an ever‐growing issue in the marine ecosystem around the world. However, the study on MP pollution in marine fish remains limited, particularly those conducted in Eastern Sarawak, Malaysia. Hence, this study investigated the occurrence of MP on the marine fish, collected from local fish market in the city of Sibu and Kuching, Eastern Sarawak, Malaysia. The MP samples were examined from 5 g of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) across 22 species of fish. The samples were extracted by digesting (KOH solution), followed by density separation (NaCl solution) and filtration. Then, the samples were identified and characterized under stereomicroscope and Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR). As the result, an estimated of 6107 particles of MP were found on GIT from all species. The highest abundance was found in Pacific Sardine ( Sardinops Sagax ) with 383.24 particles, while the lowest abundance was found in Japanese Sea Bass ( Lateolabrax Japonicus ) with 181.22 particles. The most dominant shape was fiber with 61.46%, the dominant size of MP was less than 1000 µm with 87%, and the blue was the most prevalent color, with a proportion of 65.83%. The FTIR analysis detected polyester (PES) and polyamide (PA) in the sample. This study investigates the occurrence of MP ingestion in commercial marine fish and indicates the potential for human exposure to contaminated fish. Moreover, this study provides additional data references, to support long‐term monitoring program, as well as the development and implementation of standardized sampling and analytical protocols for local policymakers and stakeholders, which could help improve the understanding of MP pollution and protect marine ecosystem in the cities of Sibu and Kuching, Eastern Sarawak, Malaysia.

Occurrence, abundance, and characteristics of microplastics in marine fish from the Cox’s Bazar coast, Bay of Bengal

Microplastic contamination in marine ecosystems has emerged as a growing environmental concern, yet information on commercially important fish species from the Bay of Bengal remains limited. This study investigated the occurrence, abundance, and characteristics of microplastics in the gill and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) tissues of eight widely consumed marine fish species collected from the Cox’s Bazar coast of Bangladesh. A total of 40 specimens were analyzed using alkaline digestion, microscopic identification, and polymer characterization via ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Microplastics were detected in 77.5% of gill samples and 82.5% of GIT samples, with a total of 172 particles identified. The mean abundance was 2.55 ± 0.21 items per sample in gills and 2.82 ± 0.37 items per sample in GIT. Fibers were the dominant morphotype (91.86%), followed by fragments (8.14%). Blue-colored particles were most prevalent (40.69%), with particles in the 501–1500 µm (36.62%) and 151–500 µm (30.81%) size classes being the most abundant. ATR-FTIR analysis of a representative subset of particles revealed that polyethylene (39.53%) and polypropylene (30.23%) were the most common materials, with polyester also contributing notably (18.60%). Microplastic abundance showed no significant relationship with fish morphometric parameters. Variations among species suggested possible influences of feeding behavior and habitat, although these observations should be considered exploratory because of the limited sample size. The predominance of fibrous particles and common packaging-related polymers suggests multiple anthropogenic sources, including fisheries and domestic waste. These findings emphasize the need for improved waste management, reduction of plastic use in fisheries, and stricter regulation of synthetic discharges to mitigate microplastic contamination in coastal marine environments of Bangladesh.

Identification of a polyethene-interacting gut-associated bacterium from microplastic-exposed freshwater Labeo rohita.

Microplastic (MP) contamination poses a growing threat to freshwater ecosystems, particularly in South Asian inland waters. This study presents a field-based comparative investigation of MP distribution and associated biological indicators in urban and rural freshwater ponds of Odisha, India, using Labeo rohita as a representative freshwater species. MPs isolated from water and fish gastrointestinal tracts were characterised using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. MP concentrations were markedly higher at the urban site relative to the rural site, both in water (9330 ± 2520 vs. 1330 ± 580 particles m-3) and in fish (4.00 ± 1.00 vs. 1.67 ± 0.58 MPs per fish), reflecting the influence of anthropogenic inputs. Fibres were the dominant morphotype across all samples, with a high proportion of particles smaller than 30 μm. Polyamide (PA), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP) were the predominant polymers identified. Despite differences in abundance, MP morphotype, colour, and size distributions were statistically comparable between sites (p > 0.05), suggesting shared sources and pervasive dispersal mechanisms. Histopathological examination of intestinal tissues revealed comparatively greater structural irregularities in fish from the urban site, including irregular mucosal folds, localised epithelial thinning, and vascular congestion, features suggestive of early-stage responses to environmental stressors. Additionally, a gut-associated bacterial isolate, Sphingobacterium alimentarium (UR-1), identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing (99.07% similarity; GenBank FN908504.1), demonstrated measurable surface-associated interaction with PE, resulting in a statistically significant weight reduction, alongside surface-associated morphological alterations and elemental compositional changes. Collectively, these findings integrate environmental distribution, biological response, and bacterial interaction within a single field-based framework, providing region-specific baseline data for Odisha and contributing to the understanding of MP dynamics and ecological implications in freshwater systems.

Microplastic contamination in aquatic insects from Algerian freshwater ecosystems: a first multi-bioclimatic assessment