Microplastic in angling baits as a cryptic source of contamination in European freshwaters.

ABSTRACT: High environmental microplastic pollution, and its largely unquantified impacts on organisms, are driving studies to assess their potential entry pathways into freshwaters. Recreational angling, where many anglers release manufactured baits into freshwater ecosystems, is a widespread activity with important socio-economic implications in Europe. It also represents a potential microplastic pathway into freshwaters that has yet to be quantified. Correspondingly, we analysed three different categories of industrially-produced baits ('groundbait', 'boilies' and 'pellets') for their microplastic contamination (particles 700 µm to 5 mm). From 160 samples, 28 microplastics were identified in groundbait and boilies, with a mean concentration of 17.4 (± 48.1 SD) MP kg^-1 and 6.78 (± 29.8

SUBMITTER: de Carvalho AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8160005 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature