期刊
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
卷 238, 期 -, 页码 999-1007出版社
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.02.016
关键词
Microplastic; Plastic; Pollution; Trophic transfer; Marine mammal
资金
- Natural Environment Research Council [NE/L002434/1]
- Natural Environment Research Council discovery grant [NE/L007010]
- NERC [NE/L003988/1] Funding Source: UKRI
- Natural Environment Research Council [1628005, NE/L003988/1] Funding Source: researchfish
Microplastics are highly bioavailable to marine organisms, either through direct ingestion, or indirectly by trophic transfer from contaminated prey. The latter has been observed for low-trophic level organisms in laboratory conditions, yet empirical evidence in high trophic-level taxa is lacking. In natura studies face difficulties when dealing with contamination and differentiating between directly and indirectly ingested microplastics. The ethical constraints of subjecting large organisms, such as marine mammals, to laboratory investigations hinder the resolution of these limitations. Here, these issues were resolved by analysing sub-samples of scat from captive grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) and whole digestive tracts of the wild-caught Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) they are fed upon. An enzymatic digestion protocol was employed to remove excess organic material and facilitate visual detection of synthetic particles without damaging them. Polymer type was confirmed using Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Extensive contamination control measures were implemented throughout. Approximately half of scat subsamples (48%; n =15) and a third of fish (32%; n =10) contained 1-4 microplastics. Particles were mainly black, clear, red and blue in colour. Mean lengths were 1.5 mm and 2 mm in scats and fish respectively. Ethylene propylene was the most frequently detected polymer type in both. Our findings suggest trophic transfer represents an indirect, yet potentially major, pathway of microplastic ingestion for any species whose feeding ecology involves the consumption of whole prey, including humans. (C) 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
作者
我是这篇论文的作者
点击您的名字以认领此论文并将其添加到您的个人资料中。
推荐
暂无数据