High ingestion of microplastics by Whitemouth croaker: an indication of the need to reduce coastal anthropogenic impact

Authors

  • Bianca Oliveira Paiva Universidade Estadual Da Paraiba
  • Ana Karolyna Maia de Souza Center for Applied Biological and Social Sciences, State University of Paraíba, Campus V, Cristo Redentor, 58070-450, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4823-2463
  • Petrucia Lira Soares Center for Applied Biological and Social Sciences, State University of Paraíba, Campus V, Cristo Redentor, 58070-450, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4099-5124
  • Jicaury Roberta Pereira da Silva Dona Lindu Midwest Campus, Federal University of São João Del-Rei, 35501-296, Divinópolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2151-3652
  • Ana Lúcia Center for Applied Biological and Social Sciences, State University of Paraíba, Campus V, Cristo Redentor, 58070-450, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5631-2674

Abstract

 The aquatic ecosystem receives solid waste through domestic, agricultural and industrial effluents, released there without treatment. They undergo fragmentation into microplastics (MPs) and they are ingested by the fish community. The occurrence of MPs in the gastrointestinal tract (TGI) of Whitemouth croaker (Micropogonias furnieri) commercialized in João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil was investigated. In the laboratory, the TGIs were immersed in 30% H2O2 (24h), one of the three methods tested and considered the best option for organic matter degradation and more accurate quantification of MPs. One hundred TGIs of Whitemouth croakers with 84% prevalence of MPs were analyzed. Altogether, 562 MPs were found, revealing an average abundance of 5.62 ± 6.08 MP/TGI with variation between 0 and 31 per TGI. The size range of Whitemouth croaker TGIs was 4.0 to 45.0 cm (17.5 ± 8.5 cm) and there was no correlation between MP abundance and TGI size (r=0.16; p>0.05). As microplastics are potential vectors of different toxic substances, their high prevalence and abundance reinforce the need to reduce the anthropogenic impact on the aquatic environment, in order to improve the nutritional quality of Whitemouth croaker, which represents a source of incomes and ample consumption for many families.

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Author Biographies

Ana Karolyna Maia de Souza, Center for Applied Biological and Social Sciences, State University of Paraíba, Campus V, Cristo Redentor, 58070-450, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil

Data acquisition, data analysis and interpretation and approval of the manuscript version to be published.

Petrucia Lira Soares, Center for Applied Biological and Social Sciences, State University of Paraíba, Campus V, Cristo Redentor, 58070-450, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil

Data acquisition, data analysis and interpretation and approval of the manuscript version to be published.

Jicaury Roberta Pereira da Silva, Dona Lindu Midwest Campus, Federal University of São João Del-Rei, 35501-296, Divinópolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Data acquisition, data analysis and interpretation and approval of the manuscript version to be published.

Ana Lúcia , Center for Applied Biological and Social Sciences, State University of Paraíba, Campus V, Cristo Redentor, 58070-450, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil

Conceptualization, Data Acquisition, Analysis and Interpretation of Data, Writing, Revision and Approval of the Version of the Manuscript to be Published

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Published

2022-01-29

How to Cite

OLIVEIRA PAIVA, B.; MAIA DE SOUZA, A. K. .; LIRA SOARES, P. .; PEREIRA DA SILVA, J. R. .; ANA LÚCIA. High ingestion of microplastics by Whitemouth croaker: an indication of the need to reduce coastal anthropogenic impact. Gaia Scientia, [S. l.], v. 15, n. 4, 2022. Disponível em: https://periodicos.ufpb.br/ojs2/index.php/gaia/article/view/60649. Acesso em: 19 dec. 2024.

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 4 (2021)

Section

Ciências Ambientais

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