Microplastics in Demersal Sharks From the Southeast Indian Coastal Region

Microplastic (MPs) contamination has emerged as a serious worldwide issue. Human activity, commercial enterprises, and fishing are concentrated around the seashore, causing high levels of MPs in coastal marine organisms. When it comes to their vulnerability ingestion, sharks least studied organism. The objective this study is investigate accumulation collected from Southeast Indian zone (Bay Bengal). We present evidence ingestion demersal caught by trawlers during trawling operations waters beyond depth 80 m India coast. Shark samples were also checked for any gender or size differences contaminant loading. Gill gut (digestive tract) examined 40 82.5% contained at one MP particle. average number particles was found be 4.67 items per individual shark; gastrointestinal tract showed more than gills. majority blue pale white followed black transparent with diameters ranging 0.5 2 mm. fibre fragments prevalent intestines shark. Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy revealed that bulk polymers polypropylene (PP), polyacrylamides (PA), polyethylene (PE). poses an unknown level harm shark species. first scientific data associated species habitat Bay Bengal.