Paper Title
Study on the Effect of Microplastics Found in Short Mackerel (Rastrilliger Brachysoma) on their Growth Rate

Abstract
At present, the global industries release up to 348 million tons of plastic waste into the ocean annually. When plastics are deteriorated into micro plastics, smaller than 5 millimetres in size, marine creatures can consume foodstuff contaminated with these micro plastics. As a result, consumers of marine species including humans also have chances to get these micro plactics which can potentially bring about negative consequences to health. In Thailand, research shows that Thai citizens consume short mackerel (Rastrilliger brachysoma) as the major source seafood. Our research team explored the correlation between the number of microplastics found in their body and their growth rate which can be measured by weighing their tail compared to their body weight, calculated into percentage. The results showed that the correlation between their growth rate and number of microplastics found in their body draws an inverse variation which can be concluded that the more pieces of microplastics found, the less growth rate they are. Therefore, it is an alarming concern for those consuming short mackerel on a regular basis that there is a high risk of microplastic contamination. In addition, it is an environmental concern that living creatures have been greatly affected by the use of plastic and the inappropriate disposal of plastic waste. Keywords - Growth rate; Short Mackerel; Micro plastics