Investigation of type and frequency of microplastic particles in samples of Penaeus Merguiensis in Persian Gulf (Case study: Bandar Abbas coast)

The aim of this study was to identify the type and frequency of microplastic particles in the soft tissue of banana shrimp species on the shores of the Persian Gulf. Five stations along the west coast of Bandar Abbas with different levels of industrialization and urbanization were selected. A sampling station on the beach of Bandar Moallem was also selected as a control sample. Preparation and digestion of samples for separation of microplastic particles using flotation method were performed after collection and biometrics of biological samples. Then the properties of microplastics such as shape, color, size and type of particles were examined by microscope and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy-FTIR. To ensure the accuracy of the measurement and the recovery rate of the proposed method, spike matrix samples were prepared and analyzed under the same method as for the original samples. The identified forms included fiber, part and film that fiber and film microplastics were the highest and lowest forms detected in the studied species, respectively. The detected particles were classified into three categories: 0.25-45, 25-250 and 250-500 micrometers. Most of the particles (66%) were in the size range of 0.45-25 micrometers and had black and blue colors. In addition, the polymers of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene and polyamide were the most common polymers identified. The average frequency of microplastics in the studied samples of banana shrimp on the west coast of Bandar Abbas was 2.57±1.23, and on the coast of Bandar Moallem was 1.57±1.15. The results of correlation analysis showed that there is a positive correlation between the frequency of microplastic particles in the soft tissue of the studied samples and their body size (weight and length) at the level of 0.01. All the samples contained microplastics, which due to the fact that banana shrimp plays an important role in the food chain of the people in this region, can potentially cause many health problems in the long run.