Microplastics in oysters (Crassostrea gigas) and water at the Bahía Blanca Estuary (Southwestern Atlantic): An emerging issue of global concern

FERNÁNDEZ SEVERINI, MELISA D.; VILLAGRAN, DIANA M.; BUZZI, NATALIA S.; SARTOR, G. CHATELAIN

Regional Studies in Marine Science

ELSEVIER

Año: 2019 vol. 32

2352-4855

Detection of microplastics (MPs) in biotic and abiotic matrices is relevant to evaluate how marineecosystem?s exposure to these pollutants is of emerging environmental concern and at risk of loss offunctionality and biodiversity. The presence of MPs was studied for the first time in the gut of benthicoysters (Crassostrea gigas) and in the water column in a eutrophic estuary under high anthropogenicpressure, in the southwestern Atlantic. Significant abundances of small plastic debris were found at allthe sampling stations- mainly fibers, fragments, pellets, and beads. MPs were categorized and countedaccording to type, color, and size. Microfibers presented the highest percentage of abundance in thewater column (98% with Van Dorn bottles and 72.73 % with a 60 µm plankton net) as well as inoysters (91%). In water collected with Van Dorn bottles, the total MP concentrations ranged from5900 to 782,000 particles/m3and from 42.6 to 113.6 particles/m3in samples collected with a 60 µmplankton net. The widespread presence of fibers in all the assessed components could be related to theintense harbor activities in the area, such as the use of ropes for the mooring of boats and from fishingnets, as well as from domestic and industrial effluents. The presence of MPs in both the pelagic andbenthic realms may imply risk for the animals that inhabit the estuary, and for human wellbeing, withrespect to the potential transfer of MPs through the food web, affecting the provisioning of ecosystemservices.