Distribution and Impact of Microplastics in the Aquatic …
77
Similarly, the occurrence of anthropogenic particles such as MPs pollution through
ingestion was examined in the liver and muscle fish (Squalius cephalus) taken from
the Marne and Seine Rivers, France. The investigation showed 25% of sampled fish
individuals had ingested 2–2.93 mm particle having a mean concentration of 0.36
particles/g (wet weight of fish). In addition, 5% of sampled livers contained greater
than one MP particle. However, no MP particles were found in the muscle tissue.
The dominant types of plastic polymers found in the stomach of the studied fish were
polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), and
polyethylene-co-vinyl acetate (PEVA). The majority of MP particles found in the
stomach were fibers polymer. This points out that fish could have more exposure to
fiber type of MPs contamination in the river [39].
Silva-Cavalcanti et al. [40] evaluated the ingestion of MPs by a freshwater fish
(Hoplosternum littorale) consumed by humans in semi-desert of South America,
Brazil. Primarily, the concentration, types of plastic debris, and other foodstuff were
assessed in the gut of the fish. Finally, 83% of the sampled fish had plastic fragments
(<5 mm) in their gut. In addition, 89% of the recovered plastic debris from the fish gut
were fibers. According to the observation, 3.6 particles per fish of ingested MPs were
found at the urbanized segments of the river. These suggest that freshwater biotas
are susceptible to MPs litter due to rapid urbanization. The ingestion of MPs was
negatively interrelated with the variety of other food items in the gut of individual
fish [40]. Similarly, the incidence of MPs was studied in the fish gut of coastal
freshwater in the Rio de la Plata estuary, Argentina. MPs size 0.06–4.7 mm was
verified in all fish (100%). Moreover, 83% of collected fish contained plastic debris
inside the guts at average number 18.5 ± 18.9 particles/fish and 0.7 ± 1.7 ‘others’
MPs/fish. Furthermore, 96% of fibers and 4% of ‘others’ MPs were found in 1679
pieces sample [41].
Likewise, the ingestion of MPs by freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates (Tubifex
tubifex) was demonstrated in River Irwell, UK. The result demonstrated the ingestion
of the mean value of 129 ± 65 particles/g tissue of the invertebrate. The findings
proved that 87% of the ingested MP by Tubifex were microfibers (55–4100 μm), while
the rest 13% were fragmented (50–4500 μm) containing polyester and acrylic fibers.
The observation also shows that Tubifex worms hold on MPs for longer than other
particulate constituents of the consumed sediment matrix. In the end, MPs ingestion
by Tubifex causes a major threat for trophic transfer as well as biomagnification of
MPs through the food chain [42].
Later, the bioavailability of MPs was studied in Asian clams, water, and sediments
of the Middle-Lower Yangtze River Basin, using Corbicula flumine species as a
bioindicator [43]. The result has shown the presence of MPs at a concentration of
0.3–4.9 particles/g which equivalently 0.4–5.0 particles/individual in clams, 0.5–
3.1 particles/L in water, and 15–160 particles/kg in sediment. Moreover, the μ-FTIR
confirmed that polyester (33%) was the dominant polymer type in the clams, followed
by polypropylene (19%) and polyethylene (9%). So far, blue and transparent items
consisted greater than 30% of all particles, and the rest 70% of the MPs found in
clams were ‘other colors’. Microfibers (0.25–1 mm) were the major MPs types that
accounted for 60–100% found in clams throughout sampling locations. In addition,
77
Similarly, the occurrence of anthropogenic particles such as MPs pollution through
ingestion was examined in the liver and muscle fish (Squalius cephalus) taken from
the Marne and Seine Rivers, France. The investigation showed 25% of sampled fish
individuals had ingested 2–2.93 mm particle having a mean concentration of 0.36
particles/g (wet weight of fish). In addition, 5% of sampled livers contained greater
than one MP particle. However, no MP particles were found in the muscle tissue.
The dominant types of plastic polymers found in the stomach of the studied fish were
polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), and
polyethylene-co-vinyl acetate (PEVA). The majority of MP particles found in the
stomach were fibers polymer. This points out that fish could have more exposure to
fiber type of MPs contamination in the river [39].
Silva-Cavalcanti et al. [40] evaluated the ingestion of MPs by a freshwater fish
(Hoplosternum littorale) consumed by humans in semi-desert of South America,
Brazil. Primarily, the concentration, types of plastic debris, and other foodstuff were
assessed in the gut of the fish. Finally, 83% of the sampled fish had plastic fragments
(<5 mm) in their gut. In addition, 89% of the recovered plastic debris from the fish gut
were fibers. According to the observation, 3.6 particles per fish of ingested MPs were
found at the urbanized segments of the river. These suggest that freshwater biotas
are susceptible to MPs litter due to rapid urbanization. The ingestion of MPs was
negatively interrelated with the variety of other food items in the gut of individual
fish [40]. Similarly, the incidence of MPs was studied in the fish gut of coastal
freshwater in the Rio de la Plata estuary, Argentina. MPs size 0.06–4.7 mm was
verified in all fish (100%). Moreover, 83% of collected fish contained plastic debris
inside the guts at average number 18.5 ± 18.9 particles/fish and 0.7 ± 1.7 ‘others’
MPs/fish. Furthermore, 96% of fibers and 4% of ‘others’ MPs were found in 1679
pieces sample [41].
Likewise, the ingestion of MPs by freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates (Tubifex
tubifex) was demonstrated in River Irwell, UK. The result demonstrated the ingestion
of the mean value of 129 ± 65 particles/g tissue of the invertebrate. The findings
proved that 87% of the ingested MP by Tubifex were microfibers (55–4100 μm), while
the rest 13% were fragmented (50–4500 μm) containing polyester and acrylic fibers.
The observation also shows that Tubifex worms hold on MPs for longer than other
particulate constituents of the consumed sediment matrix. In the end, MPs ingestion
by Tubifex causes a major threat for trophic transfer as well as biomagnification of
MPs through the food chain [42].
Later, the bioavailability of MPs was studied in Asian clams, water, and sediments
of the Middle-Lower Yangtze River Basin, using Corbicula flumine species as a
bioindicator [43]. The result has shown the presence of MPs at a concentration of
0.3–4.9 particles/g which equivalently 0.4–5.0 particles/individual in clams, 0.5–
3.1 particles/L in water, and 15–160 particles/kg in sediment. Moreover, the μ-FTIR
confirmed that polyester (33%) was the dominant polymer type in the clams, followed
by polypropylene (19%) and polyethylene (9%). So far, blue and transparent items
consisted greater than 30% of all particles, and the rest 70% of the MPs found in
clams were ‘other colors’. Microfibers (0.25–1 mm) were the major MPs types that
accounted for 60–100% found in clams throughout sampling locations. In addition,