Evaluación de la Presencia de Microplásticos en la Concha Prieta (Anadara tuberculosa) comercializada en Playita Mía, Manta-Manabí.

Abstract

Plastic pollution is a global issue that threatens aquatic biota, causing bioaccumulation in the food chain. This study aimed to determine the presence of microplastics in Anadara tuberculosa by analyzing samples collected at Playita Mía, Manta, assessing their abundance, prevalence, average intensity, classification, and their relationship with biometric parameters. A total of 75 specimens were analyzed, distributed into three sampling groups (25 individuals per group). For microplastic extraction, alkaline digestion of soft tissue was performed using a 10% NaOH solution. The physical properties of microplastics were evaluated through digital microscopic observation. The overall prevalence was 88%, with higher values in Groups 1 and 2 (92%) compared to Group 3 (80%). The average abundance of microplastics was homogeneous among groups, with values between 4,6 and 5 MPs/individual, while the overall average intensity was 5.4 MPs/individual. Fibers were the predominant morphotype (66,95%), followed by plastic fragments (33,05%), with microplastic sizes ranging from 0,11 mm to 3,48 mm. Microplastics smaller than 1 mm were the most frequent. Spearman correlation analyses between microplastic quantity and biometric parameters (total length, total weight, and soft tissue weight) did not show significant associations (p > 0,05), suggesting uniform environmental exposure in the study area.