Potential of fishing nets for adsorption of inorganic (Cu and Pb) and organic (PAHs) pollutants

C Marisa R Almeida; Rafaela Perdigão; Bárbara Ribeiro Correia; Henry Van Der Gracht; Sofia Dias; Catarina Magalhães; Maria F Carvalho; Ana P Mucha; Francisca Espincho; Sandra Ramos

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117291

Potential of fishing nets for adsorption of inorganic (Cu and Pb) and organic (PAHs) pollutants

Mar Pollut Bull. 2024 Nov 20;209(Pt B):117291. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117291. Online ahead of print.

Affiliations

¹ Interdisciplinary Center of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av, General Norton de Matos s/n, P 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, FCUP - Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: calmeida@ciimar.up.pt.
² Interdisciplinary Center of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av, General Norton de Matos s/n, P 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; ICBAS - Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
³ Interdisciplinary Center of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av, General Norton de Matos s/n, P 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, FCUP - Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal; ICBAS - Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
⁴ Interdisciplinary Center of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av, General Norton de Matos s/n, P 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, FCUP - Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
⁵ Interdisciplinary Center of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av, General Norton de Matos s/n, P 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; Departamento de Biologia, FCUP - Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
⁶ Interdisciplinary Center of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av, General Norton de Matos s/n, P 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal.

PMID: 39571335
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117291

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) adsorption on new plastic fishing nets in both laboratory and quasi-real scenario (nets submersed in marina seawater) experiments as well as in situ monitoring of these contaminants in water and sediments in lost fishing gears hotspots. The latter was inconclusive as environmental contaminants levels were very low. Laboratory experiments showed metals (copper and lead) and PAHs adsorption depended on the thickness and polymeric composition of the net, being lower in thinner nylon nets. Experiments in the marina, also showed significant contaminants adsorption, which increased over time, probably due to biofilm formation on net surface. This work showed the potential role of fishing gears as skins of pollutants, increasing organisms' exposition to contaminants present in the environment. So, initiatives to prevent the loss of fishing gear and to retrieve them are needed to reduce and/or eliminate their environmental impact.