Work

Assessment of plasticizer contamination in sicklefin devil rays (Mobula tarapacana) from the remote Azores Archipelago

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Plastic additives, particularly phthalic acid esters and related compounds, are pervasive pollutants in marine ecosystems; however, little is known about their accumulation in large filter-feeding megafauna. Mobulid rays, such as the endangered sicklefin devil ray ( Mobula tarapacana ), may be particularly vulnerable to chemical exposure due to their continuous filter-feeding behaviour and occurrence in plastic-polluted oceanic regions. This study aimed to assess the presence of plastic-derived chemical pollutants, specifically plasticizers, in biopsies of M. tarapacana from the Azores Archipelago, North Atlantic. An ammonium formate-modified QuEChERS extraction procedure coupled with GC-MS analysis was developed, validated, and applied to fin biopsies collected from 25 individuals. The method demonstrated excellent linearity, recovery rates between 79 and 125%, and low matrix effects. Four plasticizers: diisobutyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate, and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were detected above quantification limits in 8 of the 25 analyzed samples. Among them, DEHP showed the highest concentrations (185-511 ng/g wet weight). These findings provide the first empirical evidence of plasticizer accumulation in M. tarapacana , highlighting that megafauna from the open ocean are not exempt from plastic-associated chemical contamination. • A QuEChERS-GC-MS method was validated for plasticizers determination in Mobula tarapacana. • The method proved suitable with high recovery and precision. • Four plasticizers were quantified in M. tarapacana samples. • Plasticizers were detected in 8 of the 25 individuals. • This study reveals evidence of plastic migration into large marine filter feeders.

Source: Environmental Pollution

DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127464