Quantitative analysis of microplastics in Nile tilapia from a recirculating aquaculture system using pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Microplastic (MP) ingestion through fish consumption is a concern for human exposure. While the presence of plastic particles in fish tissues has been documented worldwide, information on microplastic concentrations in edible tissues, especially those smaller than 10 µm, remains scarce. Spectrometric techniques provide a complementary analytical tool to measure MP mass for human exposure studies without intrinsic size limitations; however, their application to fish analysis is limited. In this study, we utilized pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Py-GC–MS) for the identification and quantification of MPs in fish muscle tissues. Two sample preparation methods, pressurized liquid extraction, and chemical digestion, were tested for compatibility with Py-GC–MS analysis. An analytical method using chemical digestion was validated for analyzing particles ≥ 0.7 µm for 4 polymer types: polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, and polymethyl methacrylate. The developed method was applied to 24 adult Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) samples from a recirculating aquaculture system. MPs were detected in 42% of the samples, with an average concentration of 0.14 ± 0.32 µg/g, while high variations within subsamples were observed. Our findings reveal trace amounts of MPs in edible fish tissues from aquaculture, highlighting the potential risk of microplastic ingestion through fish consumption. This underscores the need for further risk assessments to evaluate the impact on human health and to develop appropriate mitigation measures.

Graphical Abstract