Natural and Regenerated Cellulosic Microfibers Dominate Anthropogenic Particles Ingested by Commercial Fish Species from the Adriatic Sea

This study investigated the occurrence of fibrous microplastics and natural and artificial cellulose microfibers in the gastrointestinal tracts of Mullus barbatus and Merluccius merluccius specimens from the Adriatic Sea (Central Mediterranean), an important hotspot for marine litter accumulation. Red mullet and European hake were chosen due to their roles as bioindicators of marine pollution in the Mediterranean, and their economic relevance as fishery resources. Microfibers were found in 72% of M. barbatus and 68% of M. merluccius, at levels ranging from 1 to 67 particles/individual. Most of the microfibers extracted were textile fibers that were blue (33.6%), clear (26.1%), and black (20.3%) in color, while the length distribution showed the prevalence of microfibers in the size range of 350–950 µm. This visual identification, corroborated by the micro-FTIR analysis of a sub-sample of microfibers, revealed that natural and artificial cellulose microfibers were more common (80%) than fibrous microplastics. The results confirmed that both of these fish species are susceptible to microfiber ingestion and indicated the high availability of natural and artificial cellulosic fibers in the Adriatic Basin. Despite the increased evidence of microfiber pollution in the marine ecosystem, only a limited number of studies examine natural/artificial microfiber contamination and ingestion by marine biota. Therefore, greater attention should be given to this new type of contaminant, considering its implications in terms of environmental health, food security, and food safety.