ISOLATION AND CHARACTERISATION OF MICROPLASTIC ABUNDANCE IN Lates calcarifer FROM SETIU WETLANDS, MALAYSIA

Abstract

The presence of microplastics (<1 mm) in wild and cage-cultured Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer) was successfully studied. Fish samples were collected from Setiu Wetlands in October 2016. Microplastics were isolated from fish samples using the alkaline solution method (10 M of NaOH solution). Microplastics were sorted visually according to their shapes and colours after being observed under dissecting microscope. A total of 4,498 pieces of microplastics were identified and threadlike shape was the most abundant microplastic particles found during this study. The identification of functional groups in the composition of microplastics was achieved using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Microplastics, with the presence of strong peaks at ʋ=3342 cm -1 (N-H str), 1510 cm -1 (N-H bend) and ʋ=1706 cm -1 (C=O str) are associated with the materials consist of polyamide. Additionally, peaks related to the polyvinyl alcohol groups are recorded at ʋ= 3321 -4323 cm -1 (O-H str), 1706 cm -1 (C=O str), 1219 cm -1 (O-H wag) and ʋ=1028 -1128 cm -1 (C-O str). The abundance levels of microplastics ingested by wild and cage-cultured fishes are statistically significantly different, p <0.05.

Investigation of Global Trends of Pollutants in Marine Ecosystems around Barrang Caddi Island, Spermonde Archipelago Cluster: An Ecological Approach

“…These results illustrate that MP exposure in sediment samples is relatively consistent with that in the sponge samples and is generally thought to be dominated by fiber and fragment types [18,26]. This is based on the difference in density between the two types of MP, which have higher specific gravity than water and film-type MP, so the two types of MP accumulate in greater concentrations on the bottom of the water [27,64]. The relatively settled lifestyle of sponges and their method of obtaining food nutrients by sucking particles from the mud and removing the dregs (filter feeder) are solid arguments for why the total abundance of MP in sediments is similar to that in sponges [26,27,39].…”

“…In terms of the types of MP identified in each sample at the sampling points (ST 1-3) (Table 3), the pollutant MP type PA was identified in all of the samples, except for the seawater samples (ST 1 and 2). The PC type was seen in most of the samples, except for the sponge and seawater samples (ST 1) [64,68]. The PE pollutants were also recorded in most of the samples, except for the seawater samples (ST 3).…”

“…Sampling was carried out following standard sampling methods. Each sample was put in a box in the laboratory for immediate preparation until it was ready to be analyzed using the appropriate instrument [64,65]. Sediment, sponge, seawater, and fish samples were obtained from three different sampling stations around BCI.…”

“…Seven types of MP are commonly found in marine ecosystems [18,70]. Their respective monomers are as follows: polypropylene (PP) with the molecular formula (C 3 H 6 )n; polyethylene (PE), a monomer of ethylene (C 2 H 4 )n; polystyrene (PS) (C 8 H 8 )n; polycarbonate (PC), which has a carbonyl functional group (O-(C=O)-O)n; polyamide-nylon (PA), with the monomer formula NH 2 (CH 2 ) 6 .NHCO(CH 2 ) 4 COOH; polyvinyl chloride (PVC) with unique components, such as chloride (C 2 H 3 Cl)n; and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), which is composed of three monomers with the formula (C 8 H 8 )x(C 4 H 6 )y(C 3 H 3 N)z [18,19,26,27,38,64]. The results of the MP-type analysis based on the FTIR spectrum are displayed for each sample obtained at ST 1 (Figure 4).…”

Evaluation of Microplastics Ingested by Sea Cucumber Stichopus Horrens in Pulau Pangkor, Perak, Malaysia

“…A hot metal tip was applied on the object for con rmation of the presence of microplastics. The identi ed microplastics were placed on petri dish that was covered with lter paper (Ibrahim et al, 2017). Total number of microplastics that were found in a tissue sample was expressed as the number of particles per unit mass of the tissue sample with particles/g dry weight unit.…”