Avaliação da toxicidade do microplástico na Baía de Maputo: cidade de Maputo

Abstract

Plastic is one of the most common materials in our daily lives and serves as a raw material for the production of diversified everyday objects. These objects are usually disposable and quickly used, which leads to their continuous release into the environment, accumulating in different ecosystems. When discarded in aquatic ecosystems, larger plastic waste undergoes successive fragmentation, producing smaller plastic debris, leading to the formation of so-called microplastic particles, which range in size from 0.1 μm to 5 mm. When ingested, such particles can cause blockages in the digestive tract, ulcers, loss of reproductive abilities, feeding difficulties, tissue contamination, and potentially even death in various animals. Moreover, these particles enter the food chain, possibly causing severe health damage to humans. In this study, the gastrointestinal tracts of 84 fish, including croaker, African sardine (magumba), and hake, were analyzed using a direct microplastic identification method and a biological material digestion method using 10% KOH. Among the microplastic material found, fibers, filaments, and fragments were identified, indicating that fish species characteristic of Maputo Bay have microplastics incorporated into their food chain