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Palanisamy S, Naidu BC, Venkatesh S, Porayil L, Balange AK, Nayak BB, Shaju S, Xavier M. Microplastic contamination in salt-cured fish and commercial sea salts: an emerging food safety threat in relation to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2024:10.1007/s11356-024-33215-y. [PMID: 38613750 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33215-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) contamination in seafood, particularly processed varieties like dried and salt-cured fish, poses a significant threat to human health. This study investigated MP levels in 22 salt-cured fish species and commercial sea salts along the Indian east coast. Results showed substantially higher MP concentrations compared to global averages, with fragments and fibres (< 250 µm) composing 70% of identified MPs, primarily PVC and PS polymers (> 55%). Station 2 exhibited high pollution levels, with salt-cured fish averaging 54.06 ± 14.48 MP items/g and salt containing 23.53 ± 4.2 MP items/g, indicating a high hazard risk index. A modest correlation was observed between MP abundance, morphotypes, polymer composition in the salt, and their impact on fish products. Given the critical link between food safety, security, and public health, further research is imperative to mitigate MP contamination, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals (Goal 2, Goal 3, Goal 14, and Goal 15) for enhanced food safety and security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suguna Palanisamy
- Fisheries Resource Harvest and Post-Harvest Management Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai, 400061, Maharashtra, India
| | - Bejawada Chanikya Naidu
- Fisheries Resource Harvest and Post-Harvest Management Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai, 400061, Maharashtra, India
| | - Sandhiya Venkatesh
- Fisheries Resource Harvest and Post-Harvest Management Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai, 400061, Maharashtra, India
| | - Layana Porayil
- Fisheries Resource Harvest and Post-Harvest Management Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai, 400061, Maharashtra, India
| | - Amjad Khansaheb Balange
- Fisheries Resource Harvest and Post-Harvest Management Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai, 400061, Maharashtra, India
| | - Binaya Bhusan Nayak
- Fisheries Resource Harvest and Post-Harvest Management Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai, 400061, Maharashtra, India
| | - Sudheesan Shaju
- Department of Chemical Oceanography, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, India
| | - Martin Xavier
- Fisheries Resource Harvest and Post-Harvest Management Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai, 400061, Maharashtra, India.
- Present Address: Quality Assurance and Management Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Matsyapuri P.O., Kochi, 682029, Kerala, India.
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