Maria Cristina Fossi, Daniele Coppola, Matteo Baini, Matteo Giannetti,
Cristiana Guerranti, Letizia Marsili, Cristina Panti, Eleonora de
Sabata, Simona Clò, Large filter feeding marine organisms as indicators
of microplastic in the pelagic environment: the case studies of the
Mediterranean basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) and fin whale
(Balaenoptera physalus), Marine Environmental Research, Available online
24 February 2014, ISSN 0141-1136,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2014.02.002.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0141113614000373)
Abstract: The impact of microplastics (plastic fragments smaller than 5
mm) on large filter feeding marine organisms such as baleen whales and
sharks are largely unknown. These species potentially are ingesting
micro-litter by filter feeding activity. Here we present the case
studies of the Mediterranean fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) and
basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) exploring the toxicological effects
of microplastics in these species measuring the levels of phthalates in
both species. The results show higher concentration of MEHP in the
muscle of basking shark in comparison to fin whale blubber. These
species can be proposed as indicators of microplastics in the pelagic
environment in the implementation of Descriptor 8 and 10 of the EU
Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).
Keywords: microplastic; phthalates; organochlorines; basking shark; fin
whale; Mediterranean Sea