Small fish caught off the coast of Binh Dinh, Vietnam, contain microplastics in high numbers, which shows that plastic pollution is common in nearby coastal waters.
Mechanism
Synthesis from 1 study
These small fish eat tiny plastic bits floating in the water while they feed, and since their bodies can't digest or get rid of the plastic, it just stays inside them. Because the water around Binh Dinh is full of this plastic, nearly all the fish in the area end up with it in their guts.
Most probable mechanism
Small fish swallow tiny plastic pieces while feeding in polluted water, and these plastics get stuck in their guts because they can't be broken down or passed out easily, so they build up over time.
Small marine fish ingest microplastic particles present in the water column during normal feeding behaviors, such as filter-feeding or consuming prey that has already accumulated plastic.
Ingested microplastic particles are retained in the gastrointestinal tract due to their non-digestible, inert physical properties, preventing natural elimination through fecal excretion.
Accumulation of microplastics occurs across multiple fish species and sampling locations due to consistent environmental exposure to high concentrations of synthetic debris in nearshore waters.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
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