First Report of Microplastic Ingestion in Edible Fish along Moroccan Mediterranean Coasts

Assia Bouzekry, Bilal Mghili, Oumayma Bouadil, Monique Mancuso, Mohamed Ben-Haddad, Teresa Bottari () and Mustapha Aksissou
Additional contact information
Assia Bouzekry: LESCB, URL-CNRST N° 18, Faculty of Sciences, Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, Tetouan 93000, Morocco
Bilal Mghili: LESCB, URL-CNRST N° 18, Faculty of Sciences, Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, Tetouan 93000, Morocco
Oumayma Bouadil: Laboratory of Applied Sciences, Environmental Management and Civil Engineering Research Team, ENSAH, Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, Tetouan 93000, Morocco
Monique Mancuso: National Research Council (CNR), Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM), 98122 Messina, Italy
Mohamed Ben-Haddad: Laboratory of Aquatic Systems: Marine and Continental Environments (AQUAMAR), Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir 80000, Morocco
Teresa Bottari: National Research Council (CNR), Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM), 98122 Messina, Italy
Mustapha Aksissou: LESCB, URL-CNRST N° 18, Faculty of Sciences, Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, Tetouan 93000, Morocco

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 23, 1-17

Abstract: Monitoring the ingestion of microplastics (MPs) by marine organisms in the environment is essential for understanding the threats posed by these pollutants. In this study, we assessed, for the first time, the presence of MPs in the digestive tracts of two fish species, Chelon auratus and Sardina pilchardus , as well as a bivalve species, Callista chione , in the Moroccan Mediterranean Sea. Moreover, we calculated the polymeric hazard index (PHI) to verify the hazard level of isolated polymers. The results showed that all species ingested MPs, indicating a high level of MP pollution in this area. The MPs ingested were predominantly small (0.5–1 mm) and had a fiber-like shape. The results showed that PP and PET were the most abundant polymers ingested. The highest occurrence of MPs (100%) was found in C. chione and C. auratus , followed by S. pilchardus (72%). In C. chione , the average number of ingested MPs was 19.19 items per individual, while in C. auratus , the mean abundance of ingested MPs was 16.82 items per individual, and 9.64 items per individual in S. pilchardus . Moreover, the polymer hazard index showed that PET was in hazard level IV, while PP was in level III. Further studies are required in the Moroccan Mediterranean Sea to obtain a better evaluation of the occurrence, distribution, and impacts associated with MP pollution.

Keywords: biomonitoring; ingestion; marine biota; bioindicator; plastic; Alboran Sea (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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