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Volume 02
Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Research
Toxicology 2019
November 11-12, 2019
November 11-12, 2019 | London, UK
TOXICOLOGY AND CLINICAL TOXICOLOGY
2
nd
International Conference on
Clin Pharmacol Toxicol Res, Volume 02
Possible effects of Microplastic pellets on marine fish
AbdulAziz Al-Khubaizi
Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait
M
arine debris are found floating at the sea surface, on seafloor and on shorelines. Plastics that represent 60–80% of all
marine debris are starting to replace images of sewage as a leading cause of pollution particularly in the ocean.
Microplastics considered as plastic debris pollution that constitute a major threat to marine life due to their persistence, ubiquity
and vector for transferring persistence bioaccumulative toxins in the environment. Microplastics are small plastic debris less
than 5 mm in size and can pose threat to marine organism. Small plastic pellets used for manufacture of plastic products end up
in the marine environment through accidental spillage during transport. Owing to their small size and their occurrence in both
pelagic and benthic ecosystems, microplastics have the potential to be ingested by marine biota such as zooplankton, mussels,
fish, seabirds and whales.Plastic particles accumulating in the intestine of marine organisms can clog the digestive system and
cause false sense of satiation leading to less food consumption. Ingestion of contaminated microplastics represents a unique
exposure route of highly toxic chemical pollutants into the food web. Microplastics can act as a vector for the transport of sorbed
contaminants and chemical additives when ingested by the living organisms. Ingesting microplastics can facilitate the transport
of chemical contaminants to the organism. Recently, a study reported, for the first time, that some aged plastics could release
estrogenic compounds in marine environment. Contaminants can incorporate into the marine plastic pellets by two possible
mechanisms. The first possible mechanism is the adsorption of hydrophobic chemicals into the surface of the plastic resin pellets
from seawater and second possible source is the synthetic chemicals contained in the plastic resin pellets as additives. In general,
the microplastics ingestion by fish can interfere with biological processes and might cause health hazards.
Biography
AbdulAziz Al-Khubaizi is a Research Associate in Environment and Life Sciences Research Centre at Kuwait Institute for Scientific
Research. He carries out multidisciplinary research in various aspects of environmental sciences. He holds MSc degree in
Environmental Resource Assessment from University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; and BSc of Honour in Environmental Health and
Safety Management from Ferris State University, USA. In addition, He is a member and Certified Personal Trainer at the American
College of Sports Medicine, Fitness Nutrition Specialist at the National Academy of Sports Medicine and Sports Nutrition Specialist at
the International Society of Sports Nutrition. He holds his highness Prince of Kuwait gold medal for Scientific Excellency. He is a social
media influencer in the field of health.
e
:
akhubaizi@kisr.edu.kw