Distribution and Impact of Microplastics in the Aquatic …
75
Hoarau et al. [30] further studied the key problem arisen from marine plastic
rubbishes triggered by anthropogenic letting on Caretta caretta, loggerhead sea
turtles in the South-West Indian Ocean. According to the results, plastic debris was
found with a mean abundance of 41 ± 7.2 particles per turtle. Among the turtles who
ingested anthropogenic debris, 38 (51.4%) of plastic fragments existed in either gut or
feces. In addition, fragments of plastic (96.2%) appeared with the mean percentages
of 80 ± 3.69% hard plastics per turtle that ingested debris. Further, the incidence of
additional caps and soft plastics categories was also observed accounted for a mean of
53.1% (11.29 ± 2.65 mean percent per turtle) and 71.9% (2.94 ± 0.79 mean percent
per turtle), respectively. On the other hand, the ingested plastic debris was hard white
and perfect plastics constituted together over semi of plastic debris content. The hard
and blue plastics embodied 12.5 ± 2.59% and 9.61 ± 2.66% plastics ingested per
turtle, respectively. But the physical appearance of ingested debris and biometric
features of loggerheads have no substantial relations. Generally, the study shows a
significant rate of the occurrence of anthropogenic debris due to ingestion by aquatic
biota [30].
An assessment of marine feeder exposure has shown the occurrence of MPs in the
intestines of a baleen whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) on a sandbank in Johanna,
Netherlands. The FTIR analysis of the gastrointestinal tract described the existence
of various polymer types (PE, PP, PVC, PET, and nylon) with variable particle sizes
of 1 mm to 17 cm. This variety in polymer identity and particle size is inferred
as a demonstration of the uneven features of marine plastic and the indiscriminate
way of ingestion by M. novaeangliae [31]. In the other study by [32], an abundance
of ingested debris by seals has been stated as a likely indicator of marine litter
in the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Meanwhile, the
occurrence of plastic debris in stomachs, intestines, and scats (fecal) of harbor seals
samples were analyzed in the Netherlands. Results proved the prevalence of plastic
in stomachs (11%), in intestines (1%), and in scats (0%) and plastic debris mostly
affects younger animals, up to 3 years of age [32].
Although MPs are a recognized pollutant in the marine aquatic system, low attention has been given to the freshwater ecosystem despite their greater vicinity to
potential plastic sources. A recent study by Windsor et al. [33] quantified the occurrence of MPs in river organisms of macroinvertebrates (Baetidae, Heptageniidae, and
Hydropsychidae) from five United Kingdom wastewater treatment works (WwTWs)
across South-Wales river catchments. MPs were detected in 50% of macroinvertebrate at abundance up to 0.14 mg MP/tissue. But, MP concentration in macroinvertebrates slightly increased at more total runoff effluent discharges and declined
with increasing river discharge [33]. Similarly, Su et al. [34] analyzed MPs uptake
in a noxious fish species (Gambusia holbrooki) from nine wetland areas of Greater
Melbourne area, Australia, size, weight, and gender of fish were also characterized in
the study. As per their scrutiny, MPs were discovered in the head and other parts of fish
with uptake rate direct proportion to size, and weight of fish. Furthermore, MPs were
found in 19.4% of the sample fish with a quantity of 0.6 items/individual, and 7.2%
of MPs found in the gills of fish with abundance estimated to 0.1 items/individual.
75
Hoarau et al. [30] further studied the key problem arisen from marine plastic
rubbishes triggered by anthropogenic letting on Caretta caretta, loggerhead sea
turtles in the South-West Indian Ocean. According to the results, plastic debris was
found with a mean abundance of 41 ± 7.2 particles per turtle. Among the turtles who
ingested anthropogenic debris, 38 (51.4%) of plastic fragments existed in either gut or
feces. In addition, fragments of plastic (96.2%) appeared with the mean percentages
of 80 ± 3.69% hard plastics per turtle that ingested debris. Further, the incidence of
additional caps and soft plastics categories was also observed accounted for a mean of
53.1% (11.29 ± 2.65 mean percent per turtle) and 71.9% (2.94 ± 0.79 mean percent
per turtle), respectively. On the other hand, the ingested plastic debris was hard white
and perfect plastics constituted together over semi of plastic debris content. The hard
and blue plastics embodied 12.5 ± 2.59% and 9.61 ± 2.66% plastics ingested per
turtle, respectively. But the physical appearance of ingested debris and biometric
features of loggerheads have no substantial relations. Generally, the study shows a
significant rate of the occurrence of anthropogenic debris due to ingestion by aquatic
biota [30].
An assessment of marine feeder exposure has shown the occurrence of MPs in the
intestines of a baleen whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) on a sandbank in Johanna,
Netherlands. The FTIR analysis of the gastrointestinal tract described the existence
of various polymer types (PE, PP, PVC, PET, and nylon) with variable particle sizes
of 1 mm to 17 cm. This variety in polymer identity and particle size is inferred
as a demonstration of the uneven features of marine plastic and the indiscriminate
way of ingestion by M. novaeangliae [31]. In the other study by [32], an abundance
of ingested debris by seals has been stated as a likely indicator of marine litter
in the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Meanwhile, the
occurrence of plastic debris in stomachs, intestines, and scats (fecal) of harbor seals
samples were analyzed in the Netherlands. Results proved the prevalence of plastic
in stomachs (11%), in intestines (1%), and in scats (0%) and plastic debris mostly
affects younger animals, up to 3 years of age [32].
Although MPs are a recognized pollutant in the marine aquatic system, low attention has been given to the freshwater ecosystem despite their greater vicinity to
potential plastic sources. A recent study by Windsor et al. [33] quantified the occurrence of MPs in river organisms of macroinvertebrates (Baetidae, Heptageniidae, and
Hydropsychidae) from five United Kingdom wastewater treatment works (WwTWs)
across South-Wales river catchments. MPs were detected in 50% of macroinvertebrate at abundance up to 0.14 mg MP/tissue. But, MP concentration in macroinvertebrates slightly increased at more total runoff effluent discharges and declined
with increasing river discharge [33]. Similarly, Su et al. [34] analyzed MPs uptake
in a noxious fish species (Gambusia holbrooki) from nine wetland areas of Greater
Melbourne area, Australia, size, weight, and gender of fish were also characterized in
the study. As per their scrutiny, MPs were discovered in the head and other parts of fish
with uptake rate direct proportion to size, and weight of fish. Furthermore, MPs were
found in 19.4% of the sample fish with a quantity of 0.6 items/individual, and 7.2%
of MPs found in the gills of fish with abundance estimated to 0.1 items/individual.