Microplastics in commercially sold fish in a coastal city of the Philippine Islands, Western Pacific

This study assessed the presence of microplastics in fish gut samples from Tacloban City's wet markets using microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Consumption of fish contaminated with microplastics poses health risks, including oxidative stress, inflammation, and other cytotoxic effects. The research aimed to determine the prevalence of microplastics in fish commonly sold for consumption in a highly urbanized coastal city like Tacloban. A total of 25 individuals from each of the top five most-purchased fish species across three major wet markets were collected and analyzed. The results showed that 12 ± 6.5 individuals of Rastrelliger faughni, 9 ± 2 individuals of Chanos chanos, 8 ± 1.53 individuals of Sardinella spp., 8 ± 1.53 individuals of Decapterus spp., and 7 ± 1.53 individuals of Rastrelliger brachysoma had microplastics in their guts. Among these, Rastrelliger faughni exhibited the highest average number of microplastic particles (10.67 ± 2.9), while Rastrelliger brachysoma had the lowest (2.33 ± 0.46). FTIR analysis identified the polymers as cellulose propionate, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), ethylene-propylene diene monomer (EPDM), and polyacetal. Elongated microplastics were the most prevalent shape, with orange being the dominant color.