What are the current frontiers and recommendation for the study of microplastics in seafood: proposition of the “MIMS” concept
Résumé
Since the 1950’s, mass plastic production and waste mismanagement have resulted in an important pollution of the global environment, including the marine environment. The first mention of seafood contaminated with microplastics (size <5 mm) was recorded in the early 1970’s, and to date numerous studies have been carried out on fish, shellfish and crustaceans. Using published studies , the goal of the current work consists in reporting the numerous methodologies and practices described so far. By examining multiple aspects including problems related to the definition of the term microplastic , contamination of the laboratory environment, sampling and extraction, and quantification and identification, the objective was to point out current limits and the needs to reach reliable and reproducible practices for future studies on microplastics in seafood. A final part is devoted to the minimum information for publication of microplastics studies (MIMS). Globally, practices and methodologies are improving in the most recent publications. However, some gaps are still found in recent literature. Indeed, information on the prevention of contamination, the blank management and the identification of unknown particles are still missing in some studies. Based on the aspects discussed, MIMS can act as a starting point for harmonisation of analyses of microplastics in seafood and also in others matrices.