Investigation of type and frequency of microplastic particles in samples of Penaeus Merguiensis in Persian Gulf (Case study: Bandar Abbas coast)

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to identify the type and frequency of
microplastic particles in the soft tissue of banana shrimp species on the shores of the
Persian Gulf.
Materials & Methods: Five stations along the west coast of Bandar Abbas with
different levels of industrialization and urbanization were selected. A sampling station
on the beach of Bandar Moallem was also selected as a control sample. Preparation and
digestion of samples for separation of microplastic particles using flotation method were
performed after collection and biometrics of biological samples. Then the properties of
microplastics such as shape, color, size and type of particles were examined by
microscope and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy-FTIR. To ensure the accuracy
of the measurement and the recovery rate of the proposed method, spike matrix samples
were prepared and analyzed under the same method as for the original samples.
Results: The identified forms included fiber, part and film that fiber and film
microplastics were the highest and lowest forms detected in the studied species,
respectively. The detected particles were classified into three categories: 0.25-45,
25-250 and 250-500 micrometers. Most of the particles (66%) were in the size range of
0.45-25 micrometers and had black and blue colors. In addition, the polymers of
polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene and polyamide
were the most common polymers identified. The average frequency of microplastics in
the studied samples of banana shrimp on the west coast of Bandar Abbas was 2.57±1.23,
and on the coast of Bandar Moallem was 1.57±1.15. The results of correlation analysis
showed that there is a positive correlation between the frequency of microplastic
particles in the soft tissue of the studied samples and their body size (weight and length)
at the level of 0.01.
Conclusion: All the samples contained microplastics, which due to the fact that banana
shrimp plays an important role in the food chain of the people in this region, can
potentially cause many health problems in the long run.