Micro– and mesoplastic pollution in the surface water and nekton from the eastern Indian ocean: Spatiotemporal variation, correlation and risk assessment

The pollution of micro– and mesoplastic (MMP) in the Eastern Indian Ocean (EIO) remains poorly understood. The present study revealed that MMP abundance in nekton from EIO in 2022 (mean: 2.30 ± 0.39 items individual⁻¹ and 1.81 ± 0.54 items g⁻¹) was significantly higher than that in 2021 (mean: 1.60 ± 0.22 items individual⁻¹ and 0.80 ± 0.13 items g⁻¹). In contrast, MMP abundance in surface water varied insignificantly between 2021 (mean: 0.04 ± 0.01 items m⁻³) and 2022 (mean: 0.05 ± 0.02 items m⁻³). The rise in predominant polymers—polypropylene (PP), rayon (RA), and polyester (PES)—in nekton from 2021 to 2022 may suggest increased pollution from face masks and home textiles along coastal regions. Notable spatial variation in PP and RA between the northeastern and southeastern regions was observed only in nekton, suggesting they are better indicators of MMP spatiotemporal variation than surface water. Shadow driftfish ingested more MMPs than purpleback flying squid and mackerel scad, likely due to its deeper habitat. By simultaneously considering color, composition, and shape, integrated MMP analysis showed insignificant correlation between MMP pollution in surface water and nekton, suggesting that nekton may ingest MMPs through multiple pathways beyond surface water. Risk indices for surface water and nekton reached moderate to upper levels globally, emphasizing the need for continued monitoring in the EIO. Epoxy resin, rubber, and PP + acrylic were identified as the most hazardous polymers, providing a valuable basis for developing effective strategies to mitigate plastic pollution.