MPs and NPs intake and heavy metals accumulation in tissues of Palinurus elephas (JC Fabricius, 1787), from NW Aegean sea, Greece

European marine waters are infested with plastic, with an average density of 1 plastic item in every four square-meters. Research relevant to MPs-NPs ingestion by wild decapods in European waters is limited, none of which regards the European spiny lobster. Totally 4102 plastic particles were extracted from the spiny lobster stomach tissues of both sexes. Out of the 63 samples analysed only three (4.8%) of them were found with no plastic particles. The range of number of MPs in stomachs was from 20 to 273 MPs individua(l-1). The 98.3% were fragments. In total 3833 plastic particles were extracted from the gill tissues of both sexes. MPs were found in all samples (n = 50),99.2% of the detected particles were fragments. The MPs detected in gills ranged from 11 to 339 MPs individual(-1). The DLS method was used in order to evaluate the NPs presence. Nanoplastics were detected in 22.6% of stomachs and in the 48.1% of gills. A total of 43 polymer types were identified in both tissues. Also, our study assessed the accumulation of heavy metals at the edible tail muscle. Certain elements were detected above the EU's Maximum Residue Level, including arsenic. The present results are alarming and the potential human health implications could be serious.

Automated summary

European marine waters are heavily polluted with plastic, with an average density of one plastic item per four square meters. Limited research has been conducted on the ingestion of microplastics and nanoplastics by wild decapods in European waters, especially the European spiny lobster. Our study extracted a total of 4102 plastic particles from the stomach tissues of male and female lobsters, with only 4.8% of the 63 samples analyzed found to be free of plastic particles. The presence of microplastics was also detected in gill tissues, with a range of 11 to 339 microplastics detected per individual.