{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Occurrence of microfibres in wild specimens of adult sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816) from a coastal area of the central Mediterranean Sea.
{Author}: Murano C;Vaccari L;Casotti R;Corsi I;Palumbo A;Murano C;Vaccari L;Casotti R;Corsi I;Palumbo A;
{Journal}: Mar Pollut Bull
{Volume}: 176
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: Mar 2022
{Factor}: 7.001
{DOI}: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113448
{Abstract}: This study investigates the occurrence of anthropogenic fibres inside wild Paracentrotus lividus at a Mediterranean coastal area in 2020. From each sea urchin, the coelomic fluid was directly analysed while digestive tracts and gonads were removed, pre-treated with trypsin (0.3%) and digested with H2O2 (10%) before analysis. A total of 260 fibres and 1 fragment were found in 100 specimens, with an average of 2.6 items/individual. Fibres were more abundant in the digestive system, less in gonads and in the coelomic fluid, respectively. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis of representative fibres identified 67% natural (cotton-based) and 33% synthetic polymers (polyester) suggesting their origin from textiles, possibly released from laundry sewages. Overall, these results encourage further in-depth investigations on fibres accumulation and potential transfer through the trophic chain up to humans.