Cited by 438Microplastics and Plastic PollutionEnvironmental Toxicology and EcotoxicologyMarine Ecology and Invasive Species

Microplastics in Livers of European Anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus, L.)

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Collard, France, Gilbert, Bernard, Compère, Philippe, Eppe, Gauthier, Das, Krishna, Jauniaux, Thierry, Parmentier, Eric·2017·Environmental Pollution

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) are thought to be ingested by a wide range of marine organisms before being excreted. However, several studies in marine organisms from different taxa have shown that MPs and nanoplastics could be translocated in other organs. In this study, we investigated the presence of MPs in the livers of commercial zooplanktivorous fishes collected in the field. The study focuses mainly on the European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus but concerns also the European pilchard Sardina pilchardus and the Atlantic herring Clupea harengus. Two complementary methodologies were used to attest the occurrence of MPs in the hepatic tissue and to exclude contamination. 1) MPs were isolated by degradation of the hepatic tissue. 2) Cryosections were made on the livers and observed in polarized light microscopy. Both methods separately revealed that MPs, mainly polyethylene (PE), were translocated into the livers of the three clupeid species. In anchovy, 80 per cent of livers contained relatively large MPs that ranged from 124 μm to 438 μm, showing a high level of contamination. Two translocation pathways are hypothesized: (i) large particles found in the liver resulted from the agglomeration of smaller pieces, and/or (ii) they simply pass through the intestinal barrier. Further studies are however required to understand the exact process.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.07.089

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  1. Arthur, C., Baker, J., Bamford, H., (eds.) Proceedings of the International Research Workshop on the Occurrence, Effects and Fate of Microplastics Marine Debris, 2009.

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Authors
Collard, F., Gilbert, B., Compère, P., Eppe, G., Das, K., Jauniaux, T., & Parmentier, E.
Affiliations
University of Liège (BE)
Corresponding author
Collard, France
Venue
Environmental Pollution
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2017-10
Volume
229
Pages
1000-1005
ISSN
0269-7491 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2740679147
Cited by
438
References
47
Citations by year
2026: 25 · 2025: 45 · 2024: 62 · 2023: 59 · 2022: 69 · 2021: 62 · 2020: 58 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 2
FWCI
14.27
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Environmental Pollution (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion)
  • ORBi (University of Liège) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • F.R.I.A.–FNRS
  • Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique (F.R.S.–FNRS)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
Keywords
microplastics, Engraulis encrasicolus, liver, polyethylene, translocation pathway, zooplanktivorous fish, Sardina pilchardus, herring, intestinal barrier, marine plastic pollution
MeSH terms
Animals, Environmental Monitoring, Fishes, Liver, Plastics, Water Pollutants, Chemical

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