MICROPLASTIC POLLUTION IN AQUACULTURE PONDS AROUND HONGHU AREA

The presence of microplastic particles in aquaculture environments may expose aquatic products to microplastic stress, and the microplastics can also enter human bodies through the aquatic-human food chain. Current studies have mainly focused on the pollution status of microplastics in seawater or semi-saltwater aquaculture areas, while microplastics in freshwater aquaculture areas are quite unknown. We selected a typical aquaculture area, Honghu Lake aquaculture pond, to investigate the current status of microplastic pollution in freshwater aquaculture water and aquatic products. Additionally, we analyzed the correlation of microplastic pollution characteristics between in water and in aquatic products of the same aquaculture environment to investigate the influencing factors of biological exposure to microplastics. Results showed that microplastic abundance in the water bodies of the three aquaculture ponds ranged from (296±140)—(992±558) items/m³. Compared with other freshwater aquaculture water bodies in China and abroad, the abundance of microplastics at this site was at a medium level. More than half of the aquatic products in the aquaculture ponds were contaminated with microplastics, with microplastic abundance ranging from 0—16 items/individual. Fibrous microplastics with size more than 500 μm were the main microplastic types in water bodies and aquatic products. Correlation and similarity analysis for microplastic community showed that microplastic abundance of water column and organism species did not affect microplastic abundance of organisms. Future studies should focus on the removal and excretion processes of microplastics with different morphological characteristics in organisms. Considering the close relationship between aquatic product safety and human health, it is recommended to strengthen the regulation and strict control of microplastic contamination in aquaculture environment and in aquatic products.