https://doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2021.9962
Occurrence of potential plastic microfibers in mussels and anchovies sold for human consumption: Preliminary results
Submitted: 9 July 2021
Accepted: 8 November 2021
Published: 22 December 2021
Accepted: 8 November 2021
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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
There is a global concern over the impact of microplastics on marine species and trophic webs. Microfibers commonly represent the greater portion of microplastics in the aquatic environment, but little is known about fiber uptake and accumulation by marine biota. The aim of the study was to investigate the potential plastic microfiber contamination in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus) from the Tyrrhenian Sea sold for human consumption. Anthropogenic debris was extracted from the digestive tracts of fish and the whole shellfish using a 10% KOH solution and quantified under a light microscope. The preliminary results showed the occurrence of potential plastic and natural microfibers in 73% of the samples. On average mussels contained 1.33 microfibers/g w.w. and 7.66 items/individual, while anchovies contained 9.06 microfibers/individual. Considering that mussels are consumed as a whole, and small pelagic fish, as anchovy, may be eaten without removing the gastrointestinal tract, microfiber contamination may lead to human exposure. More research is required to adequately assess the risk that microplastics, including microfibers, may pose for food safety and human health.
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Smith, M., Love, D. C., Rochman, C. M., & Neff, R. A. (2018). Microplastics in seafood and the implications for human health. Current environmental health reports, 5(3), 375-386.
Ward JE, Zhao S, Holohan BA, Mladinich KM, Griffin TW, Wozniak J, Shumway SE, 2019. Selective ingestion and egestion of plastic particles by the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica): implications for using bivalves as bioindicators of microplastic pollution. Envir Sci Tech 53: 8776-8784.
Weber A, Jeckel N, Weil C, Umbach S, Brennholt N, Reifferscheid G, Wagner M, 2021. Ingestion and Toxicity of Polystyrene Microplastics in Freshwater Bivalves. Environ Toxicol Chem 1-14.
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 258:1-13.
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: 1-15.
Catarino AI, Macchia V, Sanderson WG, Thompson RC, Henry TB, 2018. Low levels of microplastics (MP) in wild mussels indicate that MP ingestion by humans is minimal compared to exposure via household fibres fallout during a meal. Environ Pollut 237: 675-684.
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.
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.
Cox KD, Covernton GA, Davies HL, Dower JF, Juanes F, Dudas SE, 2019. Human consumption of microplastics. Envir Sci Tech 53:7068-7074.
Crea, 2017. Centro di Ricerca Alimenti e Nutrizione. Linee guida per una sana alimentazione. Dossier Scientifico, Edizione 2017, Capitolo 10.
Doucet CV, Labaj AL, Kurek J, 2021. Microfiber Content in Freshwater Mussels from Rural Tributaries of the Saint John River, Canada. Water Air Soil Poll 232: 1-12.
EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM), 2016. Presence of microplastics and nanoplastics in food, with particular focus on seafood. Efsa J 14:04501.
FAO, 2011. Review of the state of world marine Fishery resources. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper No. 569. Rome, FAO: 334 pp.
Fernández B, Albentosa M, 2019. Insights into the uptake, elimination and accumulation of microplastics in mussel. Environ Pollut 249: 321-329.
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.
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.
GESAMP, 2015. Sources, fate and effects of microplastics in the marine environment: a global assessment. Rep. Stud. GESAMP No. 90
Halstead JE, Smith JA, Carter EA, Lay PA, Johnston EL, 2018. Assessment tools for microplastics and natural fibres ingested by fish in an urbanised estuary. Environ Pollut 234: 552-561.
Karami A, Golieskardi A, Ho YB, Larat V, Salamatinia B., 2017. Microplastics in eviscerated flesh and excised organs of dried fish. Sci Rep 7: 1-9.
Kolandhasamy P, Su L, Li J, Qu X, Jabeen K, Shi H, 2018. Adherence of microplastics to soft tissue of mussels: a novel way to uptake microplastics beyond ingestion. Sci Total Environ 610: 635-640.
Li Q, Sun C, Wang Y, Cai H, Li L, Li J, Shi, H, 2019. Fusion of microplastics into the mussel byssus. Environ Pollut 252: 420-426.
Lusher AL, Mchugh M, Thompson RC, 2013. Occurrence of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract of pelagic and demersal fish from the English Channel. Mar Pollut Bull 67: 94-99.
Mercogliano R, Santonicola S, Raimo G, Gasperi M, Colavita G, 2021. Extraction and identification of microplastics from mussels: Method development and preliminary results. Ital J Food Saf 10(1).
Patti B, Zarrad R, Jarboui O, Cuttitta A, Basilone G, Aronica S, Mazzola S, 2018. Anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) early life stages in the Central Mediterranean Sea: connectivity issues emerging among adjacent sub-areas across the Strait of Sicily. Hydrobiologia 821: 25-40.
Renzi M, Guerranti C, Blašković A, 2018. Microplastic contents from maricultured and natural mussels. Mar Pollut Bull 131: 248-251.
Renzi M, Specchiulli A, Blašković A, Manzo C, Mancinelli G, Cilenti L, 2019. Marine litter in stomach content of small pelagic fishes from the Adriatic Sea: sardines (Sardina pilchardus) and anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus). Environ Sci Pollut R 26: 2771-2781.
Rios-Fuster B, Alomar C, Compa M, Guijarro B, Deudero S, 2019. Anthropogenic particles ingestion in fish species from two areas of the western Mediterranean Sea. Mar Pollut Bull 144: 325-333.
Rochman CM, Tahir A, Williams SL, Baxa DV, Lam R, Miller JT, Teh SJ, 2015. Anthropogenic debris in seafood: Plastic debris and fibers from textiles in fish and bivalves sold for human consumption. Sci Rep: 5:1-10.
Savoca, S., Capillo, G., Mancuso, M., Faggio, C., Panarello, G., Crupi, R., ... & Spanò, N. (2019). Detection of artificial cellulose microfibers in Boops boops from the northern coasts of Sicily (Central Mediterranean). Science of The Total Environment, 691, 455-465.
Smith, M., Love, D. C., Rochman, C. M., & Neff, R. A. (2018). Microplastics in seafood and the implications for human health. Current environmental health reports, 5(3), 375-386.
Ward JE, Zhao S, Holohan BA, Mladinich KM, Griffin TW, Wozniak J, Shumway SE, 2019. Selective ingestion and egestion of plastic particles by the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica): implications for using bivalves as bioindicators of microplastic pollution. Envir Sci Tech 53: 8776-8784.
Weber A, Jeckel N, Weil C, Umbach S, Brennholt N, Reifferscheid G, Wagner M, 2021. Ingestion and Toxicity of Polystyrene Microplastics in Freshwater Bivalves. Environ Toxicol Chem 1-14.
How to Cite
1.
Santonicola S, Volgare M, Di Pace E, Cocca M, Mercogliano R, Colavita G. Occurrence of potential plastic microfibers in mussels and anchovies sold for human consumption: Preliminary results. Ital J Food Safety [Internet]. 2021 Dec. 22 [cited 2024 Dec. 26];10(4). Available from: https://www.pagepressjournals.org/ijfs/article/view/9962
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