Frontiers in Marine Science (Dec 2022)

Microplastic pollution in finless porpoises and their habitats along the Fujian coast of the East China Sea

  • Daling Wang,
  • Daling Wang,
  • Daling Wang,
  • Daling Wang,
  • Daling Wang,
  • Yu Zhen,
  • Yu Zhen,
  • Yu Zhen,
  • Lili Wei,
  • Lili Wei,
  • Lili Wei,
  • Lili Wei,
  • Lili Wei,
  • Yufei Dai,
  • Yufei Dai,
  • Xianyan Wang,
  • Xianyan Wang,
  • Shenhan Tong,
  • Liyuan Zhao,
  • Liyuan Zhao

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.1050957
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9

Abstract

Read online

Microplastics (MPs) pose serious threats to various marine organisms, including many threatened apex predators such as cetaceans. However, information on microplastic contamination in cetaceans from Asian waters is limited. Based on the analysis of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), we reported MPs from finless porpoise intestinal samples and from their habitats along the Fujian coast of the East China Sea. MPs proved to be ubiquitous in both intestinal and habitat water samples. Most intestinal MPs were fibers (86.90%), transparent (51.19%), small sizes (<1.0 mm, 77.38%), and composed of polyamide (41.67%) or polyethylene terephthalate (45.24%). Seawater MPs were predominantly fibers (90.25%), transparent (82.45%), < 1.0 mm (83.76%) and composed of polypropylene (67.32%). Concentrations of MPs in coastal waters were greater than those in offshore waters. The concentration and composition of fibrous MPs indicate a likely textile industry origin. A recommendation is made to further assess the risks of MPs consumption in threatened species and develop scientific protection and management strategies.

Keywords