We examined the gastro-intestinal tracts (guts) of 160 fish species obtained from Nigerian coastal waters for microplastics and estimated annual microplastic intake by adult human population in the region from the fish species. A... more
We examined the gastro-intestinal tracts (guts) of 160 fish species obtained from Nigerian coastal waters for
microplastics and estimated annual microplastic intake by adult human population in the region from the fish
species. A total of 5744 microplastics were recovered from the fish species analyzed with an average of 39.65 ±
5.67 items/individual. Microbeads (43%) occurred in all guts assessed, followed by fragments (27%), burnt film
(14%), thread (9%), fibers (4%), and pellets (3%). Most microplastics recovered were below 1000 μm with the
least size being 85 μm. Based on the size classes estimated for this study, we argue based on literature that close
to 15% (i.e., >100 μm) of the microplastics in the guts studied have the potential to translocate gut barriers of the
fish species into muscles, where they get ingested by humans, and thereon get translocated to other human organ
tissues. The estimated annual intake of microplastics from the consumption of whole fish by the adult population
followed the trend; M. cephalus (178,220) > I. Africana (131,670) > P. senegalensis (115,710) > P. jubelini
(109,060) > S. maderensis (101,080) > G. decadactylus (101,346) > S. melanotheron (65,170). Estimated annual
intakes were generally higher for fish species with broad habitat and feeding preferences.
microplastics and estimated annual microplastic intake by adult human population in the region from the fish
species. A total of 5744 microplastics were recovered from the fish species analyzed with an average of 39.65 ±
5.67 items/individual. Microbeads (43%) occurred in all guts assessed, followed by fragments (27%), burnt film
(14%), thread (9%), fibers (4%), and pellets (3%). Most microplastics recovered were below 1000 μm with the
least size being 85 μm. Based on the size classes estimated for this study, we argue based on literature that close
to 15% (i.e., >100 μm) of the microplastics in the guts studied have the potential to translocate gut barriers of the
fish species into muscles, where they get ingested by humans, and thereon get translocated to other human organ
tissues. The estimated annual intake of microplastics from the consumption of whole fish by the adult population
followed the trend; M. cephalus (178,220) > I. Africana (131,670) > P. senegalensis (115,710) > P. jubelini
(109,060) > S. maderensis (101,080) > G. decadactylus (101,346) > S. melanotheron (65,170). Estimated annual
intakes were generally higher for fish species with broad habitat and feeding preferences.
