Historically low microplastic loads within white bream ( Blicca bjoerkna ) in the Marmara basin, Türkiye
Articles > Article · 2025
Authors: Irmak KURTUL, Ben Parker, Esra Baycelebi, Muenevver Oral Kaba, Cuneyt Kaya, Tanju Mutlu, Sencer Akalin, Kenan Gedik, Phillip J. Haubrock, Irmak KURTUL, J. Robert Britton
Journal of Fish Biology, Journal Indexed in SCI, International, WoS, 2025, vol 107, pp 1454-1459
DOI: 10.1111/jfb.70076
Summary
Assessment of 154 white bream Blicca bjoerkna specimens collected between 1963 and 2004 from Manyas and Uluabat lake, northwest Türkiye, revealed that only 3.2% of fish were contaminated with microplastics, with a mean incidence and standard error of 0.04 ± 0.02 particles. Black fibres and white fragments were spectroscopically confirmed as polyamide and polyethylene terephthalate. Contamination status (contaminated/uncontaminated) of individuals was unrelated to Fulton's condition factor, lake, sampling year and sex. Results thus highlight the utility of historical collection specimens in assessing temporal microplastic contamination within freshwater fishes.