Global Review and Analysis of the Presence of Microplastics in Fish

Abstract

This review provides an account of fish species contaminated with microplastics (MPs) across the globe (seven continents). A total of 887 fish species were found contaminated with MPs based on MPs in the gastrointestinal tract/GI. The most MPs contaminated-fish species found were marine and demersal species. Globally 45 % of fish ingested MPs with an average concentration of 5.93 MPs particles per fish species. Among all the countries, China had the highest number of fish species contaminated with MPs in the followingorders: China (176 species), Brazil (84), the USA (48), India (35), the Atlantic Ocean (31), Iran (30), Bangladesh (28), Turkey (26), Indonesia (25), the UK (23), Saudi Arabia (23), Thailand (21), Portugal (20), Australia (20), Italy (18), South Africa (18), Argentina (15), Chile (14), Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) (14), the North Pacific Gyre (14), Samoa (13), Malaysia (12), Colombia (11), New Zealand (11), Fiji (10), Spain (10), the North Sea (09), South Korea (09), Tahiti (09), Vanuatu (09), Ghana (08), Canada (07), Japan (07) and Nigeria (07) and others. MPs ingestion in fishes varied (high, medium, and low) among the locations/countries. In several locations/countries, MPs ingestion/contamination occurred in up to 100 % of fish samples. Because of MPs contamination, seafood fisheries, and the livelihoods of people associated with fishing, aquaculture, and seafood business, can be threatened. It may also increase health risks to seafood fish consumers since there is a probability that high risks pollutants adsorbed in MPs can be transferred to humans via the food chain.