Detection of Anthropogenic Particles in Fish Stomachs: An Isolation Method Adapted to Identification by Raman...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Marine Biology

Background:

• Marine ecosystems face widespread microplastic (MP) contamination.
• Ingestion of MPs by marine organisms is a significant concern.
• Accurate identification of MPs in biological samples is challenging due to difficulties in separation and visual analysis limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and optimize a reliable method for extracting and identifying anthropogenic particles (AP) from fish stomach contents.
• To improve the accuracy of microplastic analysis in marine organisms.
• To facilitate the assessment of microplastic pollution in planktivorous fish.

Main Methods:

• A novel extraction protocol involving hypochlorite digestion and sonication for isolating MPs from fish stomach contents.
• Adaptation of the protocol for subsequent analysis using Raman spectroscopy.
• Validation of the method using commercial microplastics, cotton, and stomach contents from Clupeiformes fishes.

Main Results:

• The optimized protocol effectively isolated microplastics and fibers without visible damage.
• Raman spectroscopy enabled precise identification of microplastics and textile fibers.
• Analysis of nine fish stomachs revealed 11 microplastics and 13 fibers (cellulose/lignin), with some containing artificial dyes.

Conclusions:

• The developed method offers a robust approach for assessing the presence, quantity, and composition of anthropogenic particles in fish.
• This technique overcomes fluorescence issues, enhancing the identification of synthetic materials.
• The findings contribute to a better understanding of microplastic ingestion and its impact on marine life.