Investigating the presence of microplastics in demersal sharks of the North-East Atlantic.

ABSTRACT: Microplastic pollution is ubiquitous in the marine environment and is ingested by numerous marine species. Sharks are an understudied group regarding their susceptibility to microplastic ingestion. Here, we provide evidence of ingestion of microplastic and other anthropogenic fibres in four demersal sharks species found in the waters of the United Kingdom and investigate whether body burdens of contamination vary according to species, sex or size. Sharks were collected from the North-East Atlantic. Stomachs and digestive tracts of 46 sharks of 4 species were examined and 67% of samples contained at least one contaminant particle. Although we acknowledge modest sample size, estimated particle burden increased with body size but did not vary systematically with sex or species. A total of 379

SUBMITTER: Parton KJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7376218 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature