Microplastic contamination in seafood from Dongshan Bay in southeastern China and its health risk implication for human consumption

Microplastic (MP) pollution has been a considerable concern due to its ubiquity in the environment and its potential to harm human health. Unfortunately, the exact levels of MP in various species of seafood species have not been established. It is also unclear whether or not consuming seafood contaminated with MPs directly jeopardizes human health. Here, eight popular species of seafood in Dongshan Bay, China were investigated to determine the presence of MP pollution and its implications on human health. The abundance, color, size, shape, type, surface morphology, danger of the MPs extracted from the seafood were analyzed. Results showed that the average MP abundance in the shellfish and fish was 1.88 ± 1.44 and 1.98 ± 1.98 items individual⁻¹, respectively. The heavy presence of fibers may be attributed to the shellfish and fish's feeding behaviors as well as their habitat and environment. The sizes of MPs found were below 1.0 mm. The main types of MP found in the shellfish were PES and PET, whereas the main types found in the fish were PS and PES. Risk assessment suggested that MPs in the shellfish (risk Level V) posed a greater and more direct threat to human health if the shellfish is eaten whole. The MPs in the gastrointestinal tracts (GITs) of fish (risk Level IV) have a relatively limited effect on human health since GITs are seldom consumed by humans unless the fish is heavily processed (canned or dried). MPs-induced health risk is predicted using a technique called molecular docking. The results of this study not only establish levels of MP pollution in popular seafood species but also help understand the implications of consuming MP-contaminated seafood on human health.