Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Detection of Anthropogenic Particles in Fish Stomachs: An Isolation Method Adapted to Identification by Raman Spectroscopy

  • Published:
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Microplastic particles (MP) contaminate oceans and affect marine organisms in several ways. Ingestion combined with food intake is generally reported. However, data interpretation often is circumvented by the difficulty to separate MP from bulk samples. Visual examination often is used as one or the only step to sort these particles. However, color, size, and shape are insufficient and often unreliable criteria. We present an extraction method based on hypochlorite digestion and isolation of MP from the membrane by sonication. The protocol is especially well adapted to a subsequent analysis by Raman spectroscopy. The method avoids fluorescence problems, allowing better identification of anthropogenic particles (AP) from stomach contents of fish by Raman spectroscopy. It was developed with commercial samples of microplastics and cotton along with stomach contents from three different Clupeiformes fishes: Clupea harengus, Sardina pilchardus, and Engraulis encrasicolus. The optimized digestion and isolation protocol showed no visible impact on microplastics and cotton particles while the Raman spectroscopic spectrum allowed the precise identification of microplastics and textile fibers. Thirty-five particles were isolated from nine fish stomach contents. Raman analysis has confirmed 11 microplastics and 13 fibers mainly made of cellulose or lignin. Some particles were not completely identified but contained artificial dyes. The novel approach developed in this manuscript should help to assess the presence, quantity, and composition of AP in planktivorous fish stomachs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arthur C, Baker J and Bamford H (2009) In: Proceedings of the international research workshop on the occurrence, effects and fate of microplastic marine debris. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS-OR&R-30, 9–11 Sept 2008

  • Barnes DKA, Galgani F, Thompson RC, Barlaz M (2009) Accumulation and fragmentation of plastic debris in global environments. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 364:1985–1998. doi:10.1098/rstb.2008.0205

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Besseling E, Foekema EM, Van Franeker JA et al (2015) Microplastic in a macro filter feeder: humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae. Mar Pollut Bull. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.04.007

    Google Scholar 

  • Boerger CM, Lattin GL, Moore SL, Moore CJ (2010) Plastic ingestion by planktivorous fishes in the North Pacific Central Gyre. Mar Pollut Bull 60:2275–2278. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2010.08.007

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter EJ, Smith KL Jr (1972) Plastics on the Sargasso sea surface. Science 175:1240–1241

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cheshire A, Adler E, Barbiere J et al (2009) UNEP/IOC Guidelines on Survey and Monitoring of Marine Litter, UNEP regional seas reports and studies. Vol. IOC Technical Series No. 83

  • Cho LL (2007) Identification of textile fiber by Raman microspectroscopy. Forensic Sci J 6:55–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Choy C, Drazen J (2013) Plastic for dinner? Observations of frequent debris ingestion by pelagic predatory fishes from the central North Pacific. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 485:155–163. doi:10.3354/meps10342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christensen CE, McNeal SF, Eleazer P (2008) Effect of lowering the pH of sodium hypochlorite on dissolving tissue in vitro. J Endod 34:449–452. doi:10.1016/j.joen.2008.01.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Claessens M, Van Cauwenberghe L, Vandegehuchte MB, Janssen CR (2013) New techniques for the detection of microplastics in sediments and field collected organisms. Mar Pollut Bull 70:227–233

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cole M, Lindeque P, Halsband C, Galloway TS (2011) Microplastics as contaminants in the marine environment: a review. Mar Pollut Bull 62:2588–2597

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cole M, Webb H, Lindeque PK et al (2014) Isolation of microplastics in biota-rich seawater samples and marine organisms. Sci Rep 4:4528. doi:10.1038/srep04528

    Google Scholar 

  • Cózar A, Echevarría F, González-Gordillo JI et al (2014) Plastic debris in the open ocean. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 111:10239–10244. doi:10.1073/pnas.1314705111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cunha ME, Garrido S, Pissarra J (2005) The use of stomach fullness and colour indices to assess Sardina pilchardus feeding. J Mar Biol Assoc UK 85:425–431. doi:10.1017/S0025315405011367h

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davison P, Asch RG (2011) Plastic ingestion by mesopelagic fishes in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 432:173–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Derraik JG (2002) The pollution of the marine environment by plastic debris: a review. Mar Pollut Bull 44:842–852. doi:10.1016/S0025-326X(02)00220-5

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dixon TJ, Dixon TR (1983) Marine litter distribution and composition in the North Sea. Mar Pollut Bull 14:145–148. doi:10.1016/0025-326X(83)90068-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eriksen M, Lebreton LCM, Carson HS et al (2014) Plastic pollution in the world’s oceans: more than 5 trillion plastic pieces weighing over 250,000 tons afloat at sea. PLoS ONE 9:e111913. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0111913

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evjemo JO, Reitan KI, Olsen Y (2003) Copepods as live food organisms in the larval rearing of halibut larvae (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.) with special emphasis on the nutritional value. Aquaculture 227:191–210. doi:10.1016/S0044-8486(03)00503-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foekema EM, De Gruijter C, Mergia MT et al (2013) Plastic in north sea fish. Environ Sci Technol 47:8818–8824. doi:10.1021/es400931b

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hidalgo-Ruz V, Gutow L, Thompson RC, Thiel M (2012) Microplastics in the marine environment: a review of the methods used for identification and quantification. Environ Sci Technol 46:3060–3075

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horsman PV (1982) The amount of garbage pollution from merchant ships. Mar Pollut Bull 13:167–169. doi:10.1016/0025-326X(82)90088-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howell EA, Bograd SJ, Morishige C et al (2012) On North Pacific circulation and associated marine debris concentration. Mar Pollut Bull 65:16–22

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ivar do Sul JA, Costa MF (2014) The present and future of microplastic pollution in the marine environment. Environ Pollut 185:352–364. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2013.10.036

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ivar do Sul JA, Spengler A, Costa MF (2009) Here, there and everywhere. Small plastic fragments and pellets on beaches of Fernando de Noronha (Equatorial Western Atlantic). Mar Pollut Bull 58:1236–1238. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2009.05.004

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Law KL, Thompson RC (2014) Oceans. Microplastics in the seas. Science 345:144–145. doi:10.1126/science.1254065

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Law KL, Morét-Ferguson S, Maximenko NA et al (2010) Plastic accumulation in the North Atlantic subtropical gyre. Science 329:1185–1188. doi:10.1126/science.1192321

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lepot L (2011) Application de la spectroscopie Raman à l’analyse de colorants sur fibres de coton dans le contexte de la criminalistique. Dissertation, University of Liege, Belgium

  • Lobelle D, Cunliffe M (2011) Early microbial biofilm formation on marine plastic debris. Mar Pollut Bull 62:197–200. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2010.10.013

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lusher AL, McHugh M, Thompson RC (2013) Occurrence of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract of pelagic and demersal fish from the English Channel. Mar Pollut Bull 67:94–99

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Merrell TR (1980) Accumulation of plastic litter on beaches of Amchitka Island, Alaska. Mar Environ Res 3:171–184. doi:10.1016/0141-1136(80)90025-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Möllmann C, Kornilovs G, Fetter M, Köster FW (2004) Feeding ecology of central Baltic Sea herring and sprat. J Fish Biol 65:1563–1581. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.2004.00566.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore C, Moore S, Leecaster M, Weisberg S (2001) A comparison of plastic and plankton in the North Pacific Central Gyre. Mar Pollut Bull 42:1297–1300. doi:10.1016/S0025-326X(01)00114-X

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morton WE, Hearle JWS (2008) Physical properties of textile fibres, 4th edn. Elsevier Ltd., Amsterdam

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Murray F, Cowie PR (2011) Plastic contamination in the decapod crustacean Nephrops norvegicus (Linnaeus, 1758). Mar Pollut Bull 62:1207–1217

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ohman MD (1997) On the determination of zooplankton lipid content and the occurrence of gelatinous copepods. J Plankton Res 19:1235–1250

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • OSPAR (2007) OSPAR Pilot project on monitoring marine beach litter. Monit Mar Litter OSPAR Reg. p 74

  • Plastics Europe (2015) Plastics—the Facts 2014/2015: an analysis of European plastics production, demand and waste data. http://www.plasticseurope.org/Document/plastics-the-facts-20142015.aspx?Page=DOCUMENT&FolID=2. Accessed 29 June 2015

  • PlasticsEurope (2013) Plastics—the Facts 2013: an analysis of European latest plastics production, demand and waste data. http://www.plasticseurope.org/Document/plastics-the-facts-2013.aspx?Page=DOCUMENT&FolID=2. Accessed 29 June 2015

  • Plounevez S, Champalbert G (1999) Feeding behaviour and trophic environment of Engraulis encrasicolus (L.) in the Bay of Biscay. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 49:177–191. doi:10.1006/ecss.1999.0497

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Possatto FE, Barletta M, Costa MF et al (2011) Plastic debris ingestion by marine catfish: an unexpected fisheries impact. Mar Pollut Bull 62:1098–1102. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.01.036

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pruter AT (1987) Sources, quantities and distribution of persistent plastics in the marine environment. Mar Pollut Bull 18:305–310. doi:10.1016/S0025-326X(87)80016-4

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan PG, Moloney CL (1993) Marine litter keeps increasing. Nature 361:23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spickett CM, Jerlich A, Panasenko OM et al (2000) The reactions of hypochlorous acid, the reactive oxygen species produced by myeloperoxidase, with lipids. Acta Biochim Pol 47:889–899

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stojicic S, Zivkovic S, Qian W et al (2010) Tissue dissolution by sodium hypochlorite: effect of concentration, temperature, agitation, and surfactant. J Endod 36:1558–1562

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson R (2006) Plastic debris in the marine environment: consequences and solutions. In: Krause J, Von Nordheim H, Brager S (eds) Marine Nature Conservation in Europe. Bundesamt fur Naturschutz, Stralsund, pp 107–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson RC, Olsen Y, Mitchell RP et al (2004) Lost at sea: where is all the plastic? Science 304:838. doi:10.1126/science.1094559

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Cauwenberghe L, Janssen CR (2014) Microplastics in bivalves cultured for human consumption. Environ Pollut 193:65–70. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2014.06.010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van der Lingen CD, Bertrand A, Bode A et al (2009) Trophic dynamics of small pelagic fish. In: Checkley D, Roy C, Alheit J, Oozeki Y (eds) Climate change and small pelagic fish. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 112–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodall LC, Sanchez-Vidal A, Paterson GLJ et al (2014) The deep sea is a major sink for microplastic debris. R Soc Open Sci 1:140317. doi:10.1098/rsos.140317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wright SL, Thompson RC, Galloway TS (2013) The physical impacts of microplastics on marine organisms: a review. Environ Pollut 178:483–492

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Institut Français de Recherche pour l’Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER), the Thalassa and Europe skippers, Yves Verin and Jean-Louis Bigot, and their scientist teams. This study was funded by the Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique (F.R.S.-FNRS). F. Collard acknowledges a PhD Fund for Research Training in Industry and in Agriculture (F.R.I.A.) grant. K. Das is a F.R.S-FNRS Research Associate. This paper is MARE publication nr. 290.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Functional and Evolutionary Morphology, AFFISH-RC, University of Liege, B6c, Liège, Belgium

    France Collard & Eric Parmentier

  2. Laboratory of Oceanology – MARE Center, University of Liege, B6c, Liège, Belgium

    France Collard & Krishna Das

  3. Inorganic Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Liege, Liège, Belgium

    Bernard Gilbert & Gauthier Eppe

Authors
  1. France Collard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bernard Gilbert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gauthier Eppe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Eric Parmentier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Krishna Das
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to France Collard.

Electronic Supplementary Material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 17 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Collard, F., Gilbert, B., Eppe, G. et al. Detection of Anthropogenic Particles in Fish Stomachs: An Isolation Method Adapted to Identification by Raman Spectroscopy. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 69, 331–339 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-015-0221-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-015-0221-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation