Relationship between biological, ecological parameters and microplastic concentration in Mediterranean fish species

Every year, ca. 300.000 million tons of single-use plastic objects are produced worldwide for different uses and applications which often enter and persist for centuries the marine environment as waste due to their low-recycling rates, durability, high resistance, and inadequate disposal. Once entered the sea, plastics dispersed in marine ecosystems can be fragmented in smaller particles by exogenous factors becoming microplastics (MPs = 0.001 mm ¡ plastics ¡ 5 mm). Due to MP small size, numerous marine organisms, including benthic, demersal and nectonic fish species, can more easily uptake bioavailable MPs from the sourrounding environment, and negatively impact them. MPs can represent a hazard also for humans through the consumption of contaminated edible marine species. From this assumption the aims of this work are: (i) to detect MPs aboundance and type (i.e. color, shape, size) in five fish species of commercial interest (Gobius paganellus, Micromesistius poutassou, Mullus barbatus, Sardina pilchardus, Trachinus draco) and (ii) to analyze the influence of biological (i.e. fish length, weight) and ecological (i.e. diet, habitat) parameters on MPs contamination of fish. Results shows that MPs were found in all detected species. Blue fibers Also see: https://micro2022.sciencesconf.org/427168/document