READ ME File For 'Microplastics in fish and fishmeal: an emerging environmental challenge?'

Dataset DOI: 10.5258/SOTON/D1400

ReadMe Author: Thiele, C.J., University of Southampton [ORCID ID 0000-0002-3160-1189]

This dataset supports the publication:
AUTHORS: Christina Thiele, Malcolm D. Hudson, Andrea Russell, Marilin Saluveer, Giovanna Sidaoui-Haddad
TITLE: Microplastics in fish and fishmeal – an emerging environmental challenge?
JOURNAL: Scientific Reports
PAPER DOI IF KNOWN: 10.1038/s41598-021-81499-8


This dataset contains:

Data supporting the above mentioned publication can be found in the excel file '200420_fishmeal_raw_data.xlsx'. The file is divided into tabs.

Tab ‘Microplastics in commercial FM’
Provides a breakdown of potential microplastics found in commercial fishmeal samples by type of particle, colour, polymer type and particle characteristics.
Tabs 'Raman spectra blanks', 'Raman spectra fishmeal A' and 'Raman spectra fishmeal B'
Contain Raman spectra data of analysed particles from commercial fishmeal.
Tab ‘Recovery trial 1’
Contains counts of spiked microplastics relating to trial 1/technique 1.
Tab ‘Recovery trial 2’
Contains counts of spiked microplastics relating to trial 2/technique 2.
Tab ‘List FM species’
Based on references provided at the top of the sheet, a list of species that are considered relevant to fishmeal production was produced. This list was used 
to check research articles that were identified through the literature review for their relevance to fishmeal production.

Further, the folder 'Raw data_images.zip' contains an excel file providing information about the magnification that was used when taking images. In addition, there are 
49 images of potential microplastics that were isolated from commercial fishmeal samples. Note: not all of these were identified to be plastic. 


Date of data collection: from June 2017 to January 2020

Information about geographic location of data collection: University of Southampton, UK

Licence: CC BY-NC-SA

Related projects:
This work was supported by the EPSRC Doctoral Programme, Leverhulme Trust Doctoral Scholarship and the Blue Marine Foundation, London, UK. 


Date that the file was created: June, 2020