Abundance and ecological risk of microplastics in commercial fish species from northeastern Mediterranean Sea.

Microplastic pollution in marine environment has attracted the attention of scientists and policy makers. A substantial number of studies have examined the microplastic content in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of fish to monitor microplastic (MP) pollution levels in the ambient environment. The aim of the study was to access the microplastic abundance in the commonly consumed fish species and associated ecological risk assessment for consumers. To that end, microplastic presence in the gills and GIT of Boops boops, Mullus barbatus Mullus surmuletus, Saurida undosquamis, Sardina pilchardus, Trachurus mediterraneus, Pagellus erythrinus, Oblada melanurus, Diplous annularis was investigated. The polymer analysis of extracted MPs were done using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Including all examined specimens, mean MP abundance in the GIT and gills were found as 0.8 ± 1.2 MPs/ind and 0.3 ± 0,7 MPs/ind, respectively. Consistent with the global picture, mainly detected MPs were fiber in shape (79%), black (39%) and blue (37%) in color, and less than 500 μm in size (63%). Polyethylene (21%), polyethylene derivatives (33%) and polypropylene (26%) were the most frequently detected polymers. Ecological risk assessment was calculated by employing polymer risk index, and varied between 4,6 and 27 indicating low to medium hazard risk for examined species. Hazard risk score showed that demersal and bentopelagic fish species were more prone to MP toxicity depending on the toxicity levels of identified polymers. Results indicated that polymer distribution in the marine environment is as significant as the habitat preferences of fish in determining the ecological risk posed by microplastic toxicity.