Heavy metal and microplastic pollution are a threat to marine ecosystems. Thus, the present study aims to assess the risk of these contaminants on edible organisms. Water and tissues of macroalgae, prawns, and crabs collected from 27 sites (3 zones) across the Gujarat coast were evaluated for heavy metal and microplastic presence. Chromium and nickel concentrations were highest in water samples of Alang and Nishkalank and in muscles of Penaeus japonicus, and Portunus sanguinolentus, while copper was highest in Ulva lactuca. Additionally, the bioconcentration factor highlighted mercury accumulation in macroalgae and nickel in prawns and crabs. Water and tissue samples revealed an abundance of microplastics (0.5- 4 mm) consisting of threads (49 %), fragments (33 %), and films (18 %) representing polymers like polyvinyl chloride, nylon, polypropylene, and polystyrene. Our findings indicate that contamination exceeds permissible limits in all three trophic levels studied, attributed to elevated anthropogenic activities, requiring immediate intervention for policy-driven decisions.

中文翻译：

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印度古吉拉特邦海岸线海洋生物群中重金属和微塑料的环境风险评估


重金属和微塑料污染对海洋生态系统构成威胁。因此，本研究旨在评估这些污染物对可食用生物体的风险。对从古吉拉特邦海岸 27 个地点（3 个区域）收集的大型藻类、虾和螃蟹的水和组织进行了重金属和微塑料存在的评估。Alang 和 Nishkalank 的水样以及 Penaeus japonicus 和 Portunus sanguinolentus 的肌肉中铬和镍浓度最高，而石莼中铜的浓度最高。此外，生物富集因子突出了大型藻类中的汞积累以及虾和蟹中的镍。水和组织样本显示，大量的微塑料 （0.5-4 毫米） 由线 （49%）、碎片 （33%） 和薄膜 （18%） 组成，代表聚氯乙烯、尼龙、聚丙烯和聚苯乙烯等聚合物。我们的研究结果表明，由于人为活动增加，所有三个营养级的污染都超过了允许的限度，需要立即干预以做出政策驱动的决策。