Ingestion and accumulation of microplastics in small marine fish and potential human exposure: case study of Binh Dinh, Vietnam

AbstractThe present study investigates microplastic (MP) accumulation in five small marine fish species living in the nearshore sea of Binh Dinh, Vietnam that are commonly consumed by the local coastal communities. Fish (Oxyurichthys ophthalmonema, Stolephorus commersonnii, Decapterus macrosoma, Upeneus moluccensis, Sardinella gibbosa) were collected from four sites in the nearshore sea of Binh Dinh in rainy and dry seasons. The temporal, spatial, and species variations in MP accumulation were evaluated to understand environmental exposure of MPs to fish and potential human exposure to MPs via fish consumption. Microplastics of different types, sizes, and colors were found in the digestive system of the fish species. Microplastic composition included polyethylene, polyvinyl ether, polymethacrylate, polydichloroethylene, polydivinyl ester, poly ester, polyfluoroethylene, and other additives of plastic materials. Microplastic abundance in the fish was dependent on species, site, and season. Overall, microfiber was the dominant MPs. The average total MP abundance range was 4.70–23.80 particles/fish or 0.29–6.21 particles/g fish. There were statistically significant differences in MP abundances between fish species, sites, and seasons. The presence of MPs in the digestive system of fish suggests that MPs are in the nearshore environment of Binh Dinh. The local communities along the coast of Binh Dinh can ingest MPs from consuming small fish at a weekly rate equivalent to one five-hundredth number of rice grains they consume/week.Keywords: Microplastic contaminationmicroplastic exposuremicroplastic accumulationmicroplastic abundancemicroplastic ingestion by fish and humans AcknowledgmentsThe authors would like to thank Giang Hoang and Chi Vo for their assistance with fish sampling and preparation for MP analysis. The authors are grateful to the fishermen and coordinators (Dang Van Khoa, Nguyen Huu Bong, Nguyen Van Dung, Nguyen Van Nhieu) for their help with catching fish for the study. The voluntary participation of the ten residents of Hoai Nhon Town and Tuy Phuoc District in the fish consumption survey is greatly appreciated. The authors also acknowledge the consumable materials provided by Quy Nhon University for the research. The authors would like to thank Dr. Yaniv Olshansky for allowing us to use his FTIR instrument for analysis of the samples.Author contributionsSon Tran: Study conceptualization, experimental design and conducting, data analysis, manuscript preparation. Vu Hoa: Experimental conducting, data analysis, sampling map preparation. Tham Hoang: Study conceptualization, experimental design, data analysis, manuscript preparation, overall research advice.Disclosure statementThe authors have no conflict of interest to declare.