Detection and analysis of microplastic contamination in Anodontostoma chacunda from Kasimedu fish landing centre, Bay of Bengal Coast

Abstract

The contamination of marine environments by plastic debris presents a significant environmental concern, particularly in coastal regions where plastic waste disposal is prevalent. Over time, these plastics undergo degradation processes, resulting in the formation of microplastics, particles measuring less than 5mm in size. Pelagic fish, such as Anodontostoma chacunda from the Clupidae family, are known to ingest microplastics during feeding activities, leading to their accumulation in the gastrointestinal tract. In this study, conducted at the Kasimedu fish landing centre in the Bay of Bengal, 100 fish specimens were collected and subjected to stomach contents digestion using the wet peroxidation method. Subsequent filtration procedures revealed the presence of 200 microplastic particles, with an average of 3±0.33 particles per fish. Morphological analysis using a stereomicroscope identified two primary categories of microplastics: Fibers and fragments, constituting 66% and 34% of the total particles, respectively. Further analysis of the isolated microplastics using Fourier Transform Infrared Radiation-Attenuated Total Reflection (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy confirmed the presence of Rayon. These findings underscore the extent of plastic pollution in the Bay of Bengal and its integration into the marine biota, highlighting the urgent need for mitigation measures to address this environmental issue.