Análise de microplásticos no trato digestivo dos peixes (chanos chanos, sardinella alba e Johnius dussumieri) que ocorrem no Estuário dos Bons Sinais

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the presence of microplastics in the digestive tract of three fish species (Chanos chanos, Sardinella alba, and Johnius dussumieri) captured in the Bons Sinais Estuary, Zambezia, Mozambique, between October 2023 and March 2024. 1 The research followed a descriptive and quantitative methodology. A total of 60 fish were collected in two areas, Icidua and Chuabo Dembe, with 30 in each area and 10 fish of each species. The samples were conditioned in appropriate containers and kept under refrigeration in the laboratory of the Higher School of Marine and Coastal Sciences. The stomach contents were dissected using a scalpel, scissors, and tweezers, and placed in an Erlenmeyer flask. They were analyzed in the laboratory to identify and characterize the microplastics present. The results showed a significant presence of microplastics in most of the studied species, with a predominance of 100% plastic fibers, of which (48%) were black, (31%) white, (17%) blue, (2%) red, and (2%) green, suggesting the influence of pollutants from human activities. Although no statistically significant differences were found between the contamination levels in the two analyzed zones, Sardinella alba (43%) and Johnius dussumieri (37%) showed a higher concentration of microplastics compared to Chanos chanos (20%). This study contributes to understanding the impact of microplastic pollution on the local marine ecosystem and provides subsidies for future investigations into the sources of contamination and their effects on the health of aquatic organisms.