Sains Malaysiana 52(9)(2023): 2471-2483

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2023-5209-01

 

First Evidence of Microplastics Ingestion by Freshwater Fishes from Nong Luang Wetland, Chiang Rai, Thailand

(Bukti Pertama Ketidakhadaman Mikroplastik oleh Ikan Air Tawar dari Tanah Bencah Nong Luang, Chiang Rai, Thailand)

 

KITTICHAI CHANTIMA*, KRITTAWIT SUK-UENG, PARIDCHAYA INTEP & SARITPORN VITTAYAPADUNG

 

Environmental Science and Technology Program, Faculty of Science and Technology, Chiang Rai Rajabhat University, 57100 Chiang Rai, Thailand

 

Diserahkan: 1 Mac 2023/Diterima: 10 Ogos 2023

 

Abstract

Microplastic (MP) ingestion has been reported in several marine species but knowledge regarding MPs in freshwater species is limited, with only a few studies on the occurrence of MPs in freshwater fish, particularly in Thai freshwater ecosystems. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of MPs for the first time in the gastrointestinal tracts (GITs) of freshwater fishes from the Nong Luang Wetland, Chiang Rai, Thailand. A total of 100 fish specimens representing 15 species from 8 families were examined. Basic fish measurements as total length and total weight were used to calculate Fulton’s condition index (F). The GITs were subsequently removed and MPs were extracted by visual inspection and digestion solution. Qualitative attributes such as color and MP types (fibers, rod-shaped and fragments) were also recorded. Results showed relatively low MP prevalence at 21.0%, with 25 MP particles removed from the GITs of specimens representing 7 species. The number of ingested MP particles ranged between 1 and 4 per fish, with an average of 1.19±0.68. MP particles were categorized as fibers (92.0%), rod-shaped (4.0%) and fragments (4.0%) with blue fibers the most prevalent. No significant correlations were observed between the number of MP particles and the body length, weight, and F value of fish. These findings provide the first evidence of MP contamination in fishes from a Thai wetland as a baseline for future studies and risk assessments on the biota of many aquatic systems spread across the country.

 

Keywords: Blue fibre; fishing gear; freshwater fish; microplastic; wetland

 

Abstract

Penghadaman mikroplastik (MP) telah dilaporkan dalam beberapa spesies marin tetapi pengetahuan mengenai MP dalam spesies air tawar adalah terhad dengan hanya beberapa kajian mengenai kejadian MP dalam ikan air tawar, khususnya dalam ekosistem air tawar Thailand. Matlamat kajian ini adalah untuk menilai kejadian MP buat kali pertama dalam saluran gastrousus (GIT) ikan air tawar dari Tanah Bencah Nong Luang, Chiang Rai, Thailand. Sebanyak 100 spesimen ikan mewakili 15 spesies daripada 8 famili telah diperiksa. Ukuran asas ikan sebagai jumlah panjang dan jumlah berat digunakan untuk menghitung indeks keadaan Fulton (F). GIT kemudiannya dikeluarkan dan MP telah diekstrak melalui pemeriksaan visual dan penyelesaian pencernaan. Atribut kualitatif seperti warna dan jenis MP (gentian, berbentuk batang dan serpihan) turut direkodkan. Keputusan menunjukkan kelaziman MP yang agak rendah pada 21.0% dengan 25 zarah MP dikeluarkan daripada GIT spesimen yang mewakili 7 spesies. Bilangan zarah MP yang dihadam adalah antara 1 dan 4 setiap ikan, dengan purata 1.19±0.68. Zarah MP dikategorikan sebagai gentian (92.0%), berbentuk batang (4.0%) dan serpihan (4.0%) dengan gentian biru yang paling lazim. Tiada korelasi yang ketara diperhatikan antara bilangan zarah MP dan panjang badan, berat dan nilai F ikan. Hasil ini memberikan bukti pertama pencemaran MP dalam ikan dari tanah bencah Thailand sebagai garis asas untuk kajian masa hadapan dan penilaian risiko ke atas biota kebanyakan sistem akuatik di seluruh negara.

 

Kata kunci: Gentian biru; ikan air tawar; mikroplastik; peralatan menangkap ikan; tanah bencah

 

Rujukan

Ajith, N., Arumugam, S., Parthasarathy, S., Manupoori, S. & Janakiraman, S. 2020. Global distribution of microplastics and its impact on marine environment - A review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 27(21): 25970-25986.

Alomar, C., Sureda, A., Capo, X., Guijarro, B., Tejada, S. & Deudero, S. 2017. Microplastic ingestion by Mullus surmuletus Linnaeus, 1758 fish and its potential for causing oxidative stress. Environmental Research 159: 135-142.

Anbumani, S. & Kakkar, P. 2018. Ecotoxicological effects of microplastics on biota: A review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 25(15): 14373-14396.

Andrade, M.C., Winemiller, K.O., Barbosa, P.S., Fortunati, A., Chelazzi, D., Cincinelli, A. & Giarrizzo, T. 2019. First account of plastic pollution impacting freshwater fishes in the Amazon: Ingestion of plastic debris by piranhas and other serrasalmids with diverse feeding habits. Environmental Pollution 244: 766-773.

Andrady, A.L. & Neal, M.A. 2009. Applications and societal benefits of plastics. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences 364(1526): 1977-1984.

Bakir, A., Rowland, S.J. & Thompson, R.C. 2013. Enhanced desorption of persistent organic pollutants from microplastics under simulated physiological conditions. Environmental Pollution 185: 16-23.

Bakir, A., Rowland, S.J. & Thompson, R.C. 2012. Competitive sorption of persistent organic pollutants onto microplastics in the marine environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin 64(12): 2782-2789.

Bessa, F., Barría, P., Neto, J.M., Frias, J.P., Otero, V., Sobral, P. & Marques, J.C. 2018. Occurrence of microplastics in commercial fish from a natural estuarine environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin 128: 575-584.

Browne, M.A., Crump, P., Niven, S.J., Teuten, E., Tonkin, A., Galloway, T. & Thompson, R.C. 2011. Accumulation of microplastic on shorelines worldwide: Sources and sinks. Environmental Science and Technology 45(21): 9175-9179.

Calderon, E.A., Hansen, P., Rodríguez, A., Blettler, M.C.M., Syberg, K. & Khan, F.R. 2019. Microplastics in the digestive tracts of four fish species from the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta estuary in Colombia. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 230(257): 1-9.

Campbell, S.H., Williamson, P.R. & Hall, B.D. 2017. Microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of fish and the water from an urban prairie creek. FACETS 2: 395-409.

Cole, M., Lindeque, P., Halsband, C. & Galloway, T.S. 2011. Microplastics as contaminants in the marine environment: A review. Marine Pollution Bulletin 62(12): 2588-2597.

Collard, F., Gasperi, J., Gilbert, B., Eppe, G., Azimi, S., Rocher, V. & Tassin, B. 2018. Anthropogenic particles in the stomach contents and liver of the freshwater fish Squalius cephalus. Science of the Total Environment 643: 1257-1264.

Du, J., Xu, S., Zhou, Q., Li, H., Fu, L., Tang, J., Wang, Y., Peng, X., Xu, Y. & Du, X. 2020. A review of microplastics in the aquatic environmental: Distribution, transport, ecotoxicology, and toxicological mechanisms. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 27(11): 11494-11505.

Duis, K. & Coors, A. 2016. Microplastics in the aquatic and terrestrial environment: Sources (with a specific focus on personal care products), fate and effects. Environmental Sciences Europe 28(1): 2.

Elkhatib, D. & Oyanedel-Craver, V. 2020. A critical review of extraction and identification methods of microplastics in wastewater and drinking water. Environmental Science and Technology 54(12): 7037-7049.

Eriksen, M., Mason, S., Wilson, S., Box, C., Zellers, A., Edwards, W., Farley, H. & Amato, S. 2013. Microplastic pollution in the surface waters of the Laurentian Great Lakes. Marine Pollution Bulletin 77(1-2): 177-182.

Foley, C.J., Feiner, Z.S., Malinich, T.D. & Höök, T.O. 2018. A meta-analysis of the effects of exposure to microplastics on fish and aquatic invertebrates. Science of the Total Environment 631-632: 550-559.

Ha, J. & Yeo, M.K. 2018. The environmental effects of microplastics on aquatic ecosystems. Molecular and Cellular Toxicology 14: 353-359.

Hammer, J., Kraak, M.H.S. & Parsons, J.R. 2012. Plastics in the marine environment: The dark side of a modern gift. In Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, edited by Whitacre, D.M. New York: Springer. pp. 1-44.

Hidalgo-Ruz, V., Gutow, L., Thompson, R.C. & Thiel, M. 2012. Microplastics in the marine environment: A review of the methods used for identification and quantification. Science of the Total Environment 46(6): 3060-3075.

Horton, A.A., Walton, A., Spurgeon, D.J., Lahive, E. & Svendsen, C. 2017. Microplastics in freshwater and terrestrial environments: Evaluating the current understanding to identify the knowledge gaps and future research priorities. Science of the Total Environment 586: 127-141.

Horton, A.A., Jürgens, M.D., Lahive, E., van Bodegom, P.M. & Vijver, M.G. 2018. The influence of exposure and physiology on microplastic ingestion by the freshwater fish Rutilus rutilus (roach) in the River Thames, UK. Environmental Pollution 236: 188-194.

Jabeen, K., Su, L., Li, J., Yang, D., Tong, C. & Mu, J. 2017. Microplastics and mesoplastics in fish from coastal and fresh waters of China. Environmental Pollution 221: 141-149.

Kasamesiri, P. & Thaimuangphol, W. 2020. Microplastic ingestion by freshwater fish in the Chi River, Thailand. International Journal of GEOMATE 18(67): 114-119.

Kasamesiri, P., Meksumpun, C., Meksumpun, S. & Ruengsorn, C. 2021. Assessment on microplastics contamination in freshwater fish: A case study of the Ubolratana Reservoir, Thailand. International Journal of GEOMATE 20(77): 62-68.

Kumar, R., Sharma, P. & Bandyopadhyay, S. 2021. Evidence of microplastics in wetlands: Extraction and quantification in freshwater and coastal ecosystems. Journal of Water Process Engineering 40: 101966.

Kuśmierek, N. & Popiołek, M. 2020. Microplastics in freshwater fish from Central European lowland river (Widawa R., SW Poland). Environmental Science and Pollution Research 27(10): 11438-11442.

Law, K.L. & Thompson, R.C. 2014. Microplastics in the seas. Science 345(6193): 144-145.

Leads, R.R. & Weinstein, J.E. 2019. Occurrence of tire wear particles and other microplastics within the tributaries of the Charleston Harbor Estuary, South Carolina, USA. Marine Pollution Bulletin 145: 569-582.

Li, J., Liu, H. & Chen, J.P. 2018. Microplastics in freshwater systems: A review on occurrence, environmental effects, and methods for microplastics detection. Water Research 137: 362-374.

Lin, C-T., Chiu, M-C. & Kuo, M-H. 2023. Seasonality can override the effects of anthropogenic activities on microplastic presence in invertebrate deposit feeders in an urban river system. Journal of Hazard Materials 443(Pt B): 130272.

Lin, C-T., Chiu, M-C. & Kuo, M-H. 2022. A mini-review of strategies for quantifying anthropogenic activities in microplastic studies in aquatic environments. Polymers 14(1): 198.

Lucas-Solis, O., Moulatlet, G.M., Guamangallo, J., Yacelga, N., Villegas, L., Galarza, E., Rosero, B., Zurita, B., Sabando, L., Cabrera, M., Gimiliani, G.T. & Capparelli, M.V. 2021. Preliminary assessment of plastic litter and microplastic contamination in freshwater depositional areas: The case study of Puerto Misahualli, Ecuadorian Amazonia. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 107(1): 45-51.

Lusher, A.L., McHugh, M. & Thompson, R.C. 2013. Occurrence of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract of pelagic and demersal fish from the English Channel. Marine Pollution Bulletin 67(1-2): 94-99.

Mai, L., Bao, L., Shi, L., Wong, C.S. & Zeng, E.Y. 2018. A review of methods for measuring microplastics in aquatic environments. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 25(12): 11319-11332.

Masa, W. 2015. Biodiversity of aquatic animals management in Nong Luang under the geosocial-based, Bann Samanmit, Donsila Sub-district, Wiang Chai District, Chiang Rai Province. M.Sc. Thesis, Maejo University (Unpublished).

McDevitt, J.P., Criddle, C.S., Morse, M., Hale, R.C., Bott, C.B. & Rochman, C.M. 2017. Addressing the issue of microplastics in the wake of the microbead-free waters act - A new standard can facilitate improved policy. Environmental Science and Technology 51(12): 6611-6617.

McGoran, A.R., Clark, P.F. & Morritt, D. 2017. Presence of microplastic in the digestive tracts of European flounder, Platichthys flesus, and European smelt, Osmerus eperlanus, from the River Thames. Environmental Pollution 220(Part A): 744-751.

McNeish, R.E., Kim, L.H., Barrett, H.A., Mason, S.A., Kelly, J.J. & Hoellein, T.J. 2018. Microplastic in riverine fish is connected to species traits. Scientific Reports 8(1): 11639.

Meng, Y., Kelly, F.J. & Wright, S.L. 2020. Advances and challenges of microplastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems: A UK perspective. Environmental Pollution 256: 113445.

Mitsch, W.J., Bernal, B. & Hernandez, M.E. 2015. Ecosystem services of wetlands. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services and Management 11(1): 1-4.

Nash, R., Valencia, A.H. & Geffen, A. 2006. The origin of Fulton’s condition factor: Setting the record straight. Fisheries 31: 236-238.

Nor, N.H.M. & Obbard, J.P. 2014. Microplastics in Singapore’s coastal mangrove ecosystems. Marine Pollution Bulletin 79(1-2): 278-283.

ONEP. 2004. Nong Bong Kai Strategic Wetland Management Plan. Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning, Bangkok, Thailand.

Ory, N.C., Sobral, P., Ferreira, J.L. & Thiel, M. 2017. Amberstripe scad, Decapterus muroadsi (Carangidae) fish ingest blue microplastics resembling their copepod prey along the coast of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) in the South Pacific subtropical gyre. Science of the Total Environment 586: 430-437.

Panboon, K., Soe-been, S. & Sukkasem, T. 2017. Diversity Fish Community and Gillnets Efficiency of Nong Luang swamp, Chiang Rai Province. Inland Fisheries Research and Development Division, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand.

Pazos, R.S., Maiztegui, T., Colautti, D.C., Paracampo, A.H. & Gómeza, N. 2017. Microplastics in gut contents of coastal freshwater fish from Río de la Plata Estuary. Marine Pollution Bulletin 122(1-2): 85-90.

Pegado, T.S.S., Schmid, K., Winemiller, K.O., Chelazzi, D., Cincinelli, A., Dei, L. & Giarrizzo, T. 2018. First evidence of microplastic ingestion by fishes from the Amazon River Estuary. Marine Pollution Bulletin 133: 814-821.

Possatto, F.E., Barletta, M., Costa, M.F., do Sul, J.A.I. & Dantas, D.V. 2011. Plastic debris ingestion by marine catfish: An unexpected fisheries impact. Marine Pollution Bulletin 62(5): 1098-1102.

Roch, S., Walter, T., Ittner, L.D., Friedrich, C. & Brinker, A. 2019. A systematic study of the microplastic burden in freshwater fishes of south-western Germany - Are we searching at the right scale? Science of the Total Environment 689: 1001-1011.

Rochman, C.M. 2018. Microplastics research-from sink to source. Science 360(6384): 28-29.

Rodrigues, M., Abrantes, N., Gonçalves, F., Nogueira, H., Marques, J. & Gonçalves, A. 2018. Spatial and temporal distribution of microplastics in water and sediments of a freshwater system (Antuã River, Portugal). Science of the Total Environment 633: 1549-1559.

Savoca, M.S., Tyson, C.W., McGill, M. & Slager, C.J. 2017. Odours from marine plastic debris induce food search behaviors in a forage fish. Proceedings of Royal Society of Behaviors 284(1860): 20171000.

Scholte, S.S.K., Todorova, M., van Teeffelen, A.J.A. & Verburg, P.H. 2016. Public support for wetland restoration: What is the link with ecosystem service values? Wetlands 36: 467-481.

Selleslagh, J. & Amara, R. 2015. Are estuarine fish opportunistic feeders? The case of a low anthropized nursery ground (the Canche estuary, France). Estuary and Coasts 38: 252-267.

Silva-Cavalcanti, J.S., Silva, J.D.B., França, E.J., Araújo, M.C.B. & Gusmão, F. 2017. Microplastics ingestion by a common tropical freshwater fishing resource. Environmental Pollution 221: 218-226.

Stanton, T., Johnson, M., Nathanail, P., MacNaughtan, W. & Gomes, R.L. 2020. Freshwater microplastic concentrations vary through both space and time. Environmental Pollution 263(Part B): 114481.

Su, L., Nan, B., Hassell, K.L., Craig, N.J. & Pettigrove, V. 2019. Microplastics biomonitoring in Australian urban wetlands using a common noxious fish (Gambusia holbrooki). Chemosphere 228: 65-74.

Sun, X., Li, Q., Shi, Y., Zhao, Y., Zheng, S., Liang, J., Liu, T. & Tian, Z. 2019. Characteristics and retention of microplastics in the digestive tracts of fish from the Yellow Sea. Environmental Pollution 249: 878-885.

Tanaka, K. & Takada, H. 2016. Microplastic fragments and microbeads in digestive tracts of planktivorous fish from urban coastal waters. Scientific Reports 6: 34351.

TISTR. 2011. The Status of Wetlands in Thailand: Inland Wetlands. Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning, Bangkok, Thailand.

Thompson, R.C., Moore, C.J., vom Saal, F.S. & Swan, S.H. 2009. Plastics, the environment and human health: Current consensus and future trends. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences 364(1526): 2153-2166.

UNEP. 2018. Single-Use Plastics: A Roadmap for Sustainability (rev. 2).

Vendel, A.L., Bessa, F., Alves, V.E.N., Amorim, A.L.A., Patrício, J. & Palma, A.R.T. 2017. Widespread microplastic ingestion by fish assemblages in tropical estuaries subjected to anthropogenic pressures. Marine Pollution Bulletin 117(1-2): 448-455.

Wang, W.F. & Wang, J. 2018. Investigation of microplastics in aquatic environments: An overview of the methods used, from field sampling to laboratory analysis. TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry 108: 195-202.

Wagner, M., Scherer, C., Alvarez-Muñoz, D., Brennholt, N., Bourrain, X., Buchinger, S., Fries, E., Grosbois, C., Klasmeier, J., Marti, T., Rodriguez-Mozaz, S., Urbatzka, R., Vethaak, A.D., Winther-Nielsen, M. & Reifferscheid, G. 2014. Microplastics in freshwater ecosystems: What we know and what we need to know. Environmental Sciences Europe 26(1): 12.

Welden, N.A. & Cowie, P.R. 2017. Degradation of common polymer ropes in a sublittoral marine environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin 118(1-2): 248-253.

Yu, Y., Zhou, D., Li, Z. & Zhu, C. 2018. Advancement and challenges of microplastic pollution in the aquatic environment: a review. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 229(140): 1-18.

Yuan, W., Liu, X., Wang, W., Di, M. & Wang, J. 2019. Microplastic abundance, distribution and composition in water, sediments, and wild fish from Poyang Lake, China. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 170: 80-187.

 

*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: kittichai.cha@crru.ac.th