Occurrence of microfibres in wild specimens of adult sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816) from a coastal area of the central Mediterranean Sea.

Mar Pollut Bull

Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy.

Published: March 2022

AI Article Synopsis

  • The study explores the presence of human-made fibres in the wild sea urchin species Paracentrotus lividus along a Mediterranean coast in 2020.
  • A total of 260 fibres were detected in 100 sea urchins, with the digestive system containing the highest concentration, while analysis revealed that most fibres were natural (cotton-based) and some were synthetic (polyester).
  • Findings highlight the need for further research into how these fibres accumulate in marine life and their potential impact on the food chain, including human consumption.

Article Abstract

This study investigates the occurrence of anthropogenic fibres inside wild Paracentrotus lividus at a Mediterranean coastal area in 2020. From each sea urchin, the coelomic fluid was directly analysed while digestive tracts and gonads were removed, pre-treated with trypsin (0.3%) and digested with HO (10%) before analysis. A total of 260 fibres and 1 fragment were found in 100 specimens, with an average of 2.6 items/individual. Fibres were more abundant in the digestive system, less in gonads and in the coelomic fluid, respectively. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis of representative fibres identified 67% natural (cotton-based) and 33% synthetic polymers (polyester) suggesting their origin from textiles, possibly released from laundry sewages. Overall, these results encourage further in-depth investigations on fibres accumulation and potential transfer through the trophic chain up to humans.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113448DOI Listing

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