Spatial variability of microplastics in brown shrimp (Crangon crangon) from the black sea: Abundance, composition,...

Seas and oceans have become significant reservoirs for microplastics (MPs), leading to increasing ecological concerns in semi-enclosed marine systems such as the Black Sea. This study aimed to determine the abundance, morphological and polymeric composition, and screening-level ecological risk of MPs ingested by brown shrimp (Crangon crangon) collected from 13 stations along the southern and southeastern coasts of the Black Sea. A total of 112 shrimp individuals were examined, and MPs were extracted after chemical digestion and filtration. The obtained particles were characterized according to size, shape, color, and polymer type using stereomicroscopy and ATR-FTIR analysis. In addition, ecological risk was assessed using pollution and polymer-based indices, including MPCf, PLI, pRi, and PERi. MPs were detected in 81 of the 112 individuals, corresponding to a prevalence of 72%, and a total of 247 particles were recorded, with significant spatial differences between stations. The most common particle shape was fiber, the most frequent polymer was SBR, and the station with the highest MP load was located near a settlement area, suggesting a strong anthropogenic impact. Overall, C. crangon appears to be a useful bioindicator for reflecting local coastal-benthic MP exposure in the southeastern Black Sea; the results suggest that screening-level ecological risk patterns may be influenced not only by MP abundance but also by polymer hazard profiles. These findings provide region-specific key insights that can support future monitoring and management strategies for MP pollution in the Black Sea and other coastal systems under anthropogenic pressure.