2 days ago
Study reveals widespread microplastic presence in seafood along Vizag coast
Visakhapatnam: Researchers from the department of marine living resources (MLR), Andhra University, have detected widespread microplastic contamination across all examined marine life as part of a recently completed European Commission project.
Their study of 100 specimens from 15 different species of fish, shrimp, crabs, and squid – each with edible value and sourced from various landing centres along the Visakhapatnam coast – revealed that microplastic particles smaller than 120µm (micrometre) were consistently found in greater quantities across all analysed tissues of these marine life, including muscle, liver, digestive tract, gonads, and kidney.
The most commonly identified plastics included polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, nylon, polypropylene, and polystyrene, alongside other materials such as latex and polycarbonate.
Two Indian universities, including Andhra University and the University of Kerala, participated in the EcoMarine project of the European Commission, which spans multiple countries across various continents, including Germany, Greece, Spain, and Malaysia.
A compilation of scientific findings from the marine monitoring labs at these institutions was recently published online. Prof P Janakiram, Dr K Umadevi, S Geetha, and D Chandrasekhar contributed to the study from the department of MLR at Andhra University.
In lower trophic-level organisms, microplastics mimic prey due to their minute size, leading to unintentional ingestion. Once consumed, these particles travel up the food chain, increasing their bioavailability within the ecosystem.
For instance, microplastics transition from algae to zooplankton, then to fish, eventually entering the human food chain through seafood consumption. Leaching chemicals from plastic additives and monomers have been linked to endocrine disruption and carcinogenesis in humans.
Upon exposure, microplastics can accumulate in human tissues and organs, potentially altering immune responses or leading to other clinical complications.
Speaking to TOI, Prof P Janakiram, principal investigator of the EcoMarine project, said: "While the detrimental health effects of microplastics are well established, their precise impact requires further investigation. The medical fraternity can conduct extensive research to determine the exact pathways through which microplastics enter biological systems and the extent of their adverse effects on human health.
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A separate study conducted by the same research team from the department of MLR has also revealed extensive plastic contamination in water samples collected from seven locations along the Visakhapatnam coast, including Kailasagiri, Rushikonda, Pedda Rushikonda, Bheemili, Pandurangapuram, the inner harbour of Visakhapatnam port, and jetty No. 11 (fishing harbour).
According to Prof Janakiram, Dr Umadevi, S Geetha, and D Chandrasekhar, water samples were taken from both surface water and a depth of 10 metres. Gravimetric assessment and FTIR spectroscopy identified polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, and polypropylene as the most commonly detected plastic compositions in both surface and deeper water. The presence of these polymers is largely attributed to industrial activities around the Visakhapatnam industrial zone, as well as the dissolution of plastic waste such as PET bottles and discarded plastic items due to human-induced pollution.
Based on these findings, the study urges the Pollution Control Board (PCB) to implement stringent regulatory measures on industrial wastewater discharge to curb coastal contamination.
