The prevalence and potential implications of microplastic contamination in marine fishes from Xiamen Bay, China

The wide presence of microplastics (MPs) in the ocean leads their exposure on marine fish. MP contamination was reported for the gastrointestinal tracts and gills of 117 marine fishes attributed to nine species from Xiamen Bay, a special economic zone in China. Among species, MP abundance ranged from 1.07 items individual(-1) to 8.00 items individual(-1). Fibers dominated MP shapes, accounting for 59.03% of all MPs. Polymer composition was dominated by polyamide (26.97%) and rayon (17.56%). MPs were most commonly (55.22%) transparent, and most (77.61%) were < 1 mm in size. Our report represents the first of MP contamination in wild marine fish from Xiamen Bay, which we determine to be at an intermediate to slightly higher level compared with levels reported elsewhere, and provides further insights into potential risks of MPs pose to fish and human health.

Automated summary

A study found the contamination of microplastics in marine fish from Xiamen Bay, a special economic zone in China. Different species of fish were found to have microplastics in their gastrointestinal tracts and gills, with contamination levels ranging from intermediate to slightly higher compared to other areas. Fibers were the dominant shape of microplastics, with polyamide and rayon being the main polymer compositions. These findings provide further insights into the potential risks of microplastics to fish and human health.