Evidence of Marine Microplastics in Commercially Harvested Seafood
Microplastic pollution is a global issue that has a detrimental impact on food safety. In marine environments, microplastics are a threat to marine organisms, as they are often the same size range as prey and are mistaken as food. Consumption of microplastics has led to the damage of digestive organ...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2020.562760/full |
| _version_ | 1818728657567350784 |
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| author | Emily Curren Chui Pin Leaw Po Teen Lim Sandric Chee Yew Leong |
| author_facet | Emily Curren Chui Pin Leaw Po Teen Lim Sandric Chee Yew Leong |
| author_sort | Emily Curren |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microplastic pollution is a global issue that has a detrimental impact on food safety. In marine environments, microplastics are a threat to marine organisms, as they are often the same size range as prey and are mistaken as food. Consumption of microplastics has led to the damage of digestive organs and a reduction in growth and reproductive output. In this study, microplastic pollution was assessed across three commercially available shrimp species that were obtained from the supermarkets of Singapore. A total of 93 individuals were studied from the Pacific white leg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, the Argentine red shrimp Pleoticus muelleri and the Indian white shrimp Fenneropenaeus indicus. Microplastic fibers, fragments, film and spheres were identified from the digestive tract of these organisms. Microplastic abundance ranged from 13.4 to 7050 items. F. indicus exhibited the highest number of microplastics. Microplastic film was the most abundant in L. vannamei individuals (93–97%) and spheres were the most abundant in P. muelleri (70%) and F. indicus (61%) individuals. This study demonstrates that microplastic contamination is evident in commonly consumed shrimp and highlights the role of shrimp in the trophic transfer and accumulation of microplastics in seafood. The consumption of microplastic-containing seafood is a route of exposure to humans and has implications on human health and food security. Capsule: Microplastics were examined in three shrimp species from the supermarkets of Singapore. Microplastics ranged from 13.4 to 7050 items of shrimp. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T22:33:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fd56984434d44afc853cc0d2fe7bb5be |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-4185 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T22:33:29Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology |
| spelling | doaj.art-fd56984434d44afc853cc0d2fe7bb5be2022-12-21T21:30:08ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology2296-41852020-12-01810.3389/fbioe.2020.562760562760Evidence of Marine Microplastics in Commercially Harvested SeafoodEmily Curren0Chui Pin Leaw1Po Teen Lim2Sandric Chee Yew Leong3St. John’s Island National Marine Laboratory, Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI), National University of Singapore, Singapore, SingaporeBachok Marine Research Station, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Malaya, Bachok, MalaysiaBachok Marine Research Station, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Malaya, Bachok, MalaysiaSt. John’s Island National Marine Laboratory, Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI), National University of Singapore, Singapore, SingaporeMicroplastic pollution is a global issue that has a detrimental impact on food safety. In marine environments, microplastics are a threat to marine organisms, as they are often the same size range as prey and are mistaken as food. Consumption of microplastics has led to the damage of digestive organs and a reduction in growth and reproductive output. In this study, microplastic pollution was assessed across three commercially available shrimp species that were obtained from the supermarkets of Singapore. A total of 93 individuals were studied from the Pacific white leg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, the Argentine red shrimp Pleoticus muelleri and the Indian white shrimp Fenneropenaeus indicus. Microplastic fibers, fragments, film and spheres were identified from the digestive tract of these organisms. Microplastic abundance ranged from 13.4 to 7050 items. F. indicus exhibited the highest number of microplastics. Microplastic film was the most abundant in L. vannamei individuals (93–97%) and spheres were the most abundant in P. muelleri (70%) and F. indicus (61%) individuals. This study demonstrates that microplastic contamination is evident in commonly consumed shrimp and highlights the role of shrimp in the trophic transfer and accumulation of microplastics in seafood. The consumption of microplastic-containing seafood is a route of exposure to humans and has implications on human health and food security. Capsule: Microplastics were examined in three shrimp species from the supermarkets of Singapore. Microplastics ranged from 13.4 to 7050 items of shrimp.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2020.562760/fullseafoodmicroplasticcommercialmarinepollutionshrimp |
| spellingShingle | Emily Curren Chui Pin Leaw Po Teen Lim Sandric Chee Yew Leong Evidence of Marine Microplastics in Commercially Harvested Seafood Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology seafood microplastic commercial marine pollution shrimp |
| title | Evidence of Marine Microplastics in Commercially Harvested Seafood |
| title_full | Evidence of Marine Microplastics in Commercially Harvested Seafood |
| title_fullStr | Evidence of Marine Microplastics in Commercially Harvested Seafood |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evidence of Marine Microplastics in Commercially Harvested Seafood |
| title_short | Evidence of Marine Microplastics in Commercially Harvested Seafood |
| title_sort | evidence of marine microplastics in commercially harvested seafood |
| topic | seafood microplastic commercial marine pollution shrimp |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2020.562760/full |
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