Eating Near the Dump: Identification of Nearby Plastic Hotspot as a Proxy for Potential Microplastic Contamination in the Norwegian Lobster (Nephrops norvegicus)

Plastic waste dumped in the marine environment has severe ecological, social and economic impacts. In recent years, a series of scientific studies documented contamination by macroplastic its impact on organisms through accidental ingestion microplastics, which also originate from degradation macroplastic. However, relationship between spatial distribution litter plastics have never been related. this work, we aimed to investigate, modeling approach, relations potential sources microplastic particles (i.e., seafloor accumulation hotspots detected means trawl surveys), benthic crustacean Norwegian lobster ( Nephrops norvegicus ). According literature, N. is characterized sedentary behavior therefore it highlighted as proficient sentinel species for local contamination. Despite no significant relation found presence macroplastic, seems that proximity significantly related microplastics ingestion. These results highlight important considerations fate plastic environments with impacts biota quality product caught at sea.