Microplastics abundance in gills and gastrointestinal tract of Epinephelus fuscoguttatus-lanceolatus at the Coastal of Pulau Panjang, Serang, Banten

Abstract

Microplastics are plastic particles in the size of <5 mm. Bioaccumulation of microplastics in the marine biotas, including fishes, occurs through the food chain. Microplastics enter the fish body through their gills and mouth. Contamination of microplastics inside the fish body can cause several effects, such as increasing toxicity effect, and growth inhibition. This research analyzed the form and amount of the microplastics found in each gill and gastrointestinal tract of the fish samples. A total of 15 samples of cantang grouper were taken from the floating net cage near Kampung Peres, Pulau Panjang. Samples were transported to the laboratory using an icebox. The gill and gastrointestinal tract of samples are isolated from their body, then destructed with HNO3 65% for 24 hours. After 24 hours, the samples were mixed with the concentrated NaCl solution with a ratio of 1:4. Microplastics form and amount are observed under the light microscope with three times repetition. The results show that the microplastics found in the gill and gastrointestinal tract of cantang groupers are mostly found in the form of fragments. The microplastics abundance in gills was 51893,33 ± 2594,67 particles/individual, and in the gastrointestinal tracts was 83926,67 ± 4196,33 particles/individual.