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Profiling microplastic fibers in the intertidal sentinel mussel Brachidontes rodriguezii from the coast of Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in small mussels along the coast of Argentina's most popular resort city and found plastic particles in nearly 98% of all specimens examined. Surprisingly, the highest contamination levels were found at the least urbanized site, suggesting that agricultural runoff and local water currents, not just city pollution, play important roles in distributing microplastics. The study underscores that microplastic contamination in coastal shellfish is widespread regardless of the level of nearby urban development.
Mussels can accumulate microplastics (MPs) present in seawater and are one of the species most affected by MP pollution. This study is the first to evaluate the abundance of MPs in the small mussel Brachidontes rodriguezii at four stations (S1, S2, S3, and S4) with different levels of human activities along the intertidal area of the most popular resort city of Argentina (Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires). Microplastics, primarily microfibers, were detected in 97.5% of the analyzed mussels by visual identification. The abundance of MPs varied significantly among the stations, with the highest levels observed in mussels from S4, corresponding to the low-urbanized area. This finding seems to suggest that factors other than urban pollution, such as agricultural activities and nearby streams, may contribute to MP contamination. The study also found a relation between MPs abundance and the mussels' condition index, suggesting that high levels of MPs may negatively impact the health of these organisms. Identification suggested that all found microfibers were plastic, with approximately 10% of the analyzed microfibers revealing the presence of polymers such as polyester, polychloroprene, polyacrylonitrile, and polyethylene terephthalate. For several microfibers, only the pigments but not the substrate could be identified, and about half of the microfibers were Raman inactive, thus limiting definitive identification. These findings highlight the widespread MPs contamination in marine environments and the use of mussels as bioindicators of MP pollution. Future research should focus on identifying the sources of MPs, assessing their potential ecological impacts, and developing effective strategies for mitigating MP pollution.
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Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in sediments, water, and two species of edible mussels at a popular beach in Argentina. They found microplastics in all samples at levels comparable to other human-impacted coastal areas worldwide, with fibers being the most common type. The study raises concerns about human exposure to microplastics through consuming locally harvested shellfish.
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Researchers compared microplastic contamination in mussels from intertidal and subtidal zones along the Southwestern Atlantic coast of Argentina in 2012 and 2019. They found that 90% of all mussels examined contained microplastics, primarily blue polystyrene fibers, with higher contamination in the intertidal zone. The study underscores that filter-feeding mussels serve as reliable indicators of microplastic pollution in coastal environments.
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Microplastics were detected in the tissues of mussels (Mytilus edulis platensis) from the San Jorge Gulf in Patagonia, Argentina, an area with limited prior pollution monitoring. The contamination was associated with proximity to coastal cities that discharge partially treated wastewater. The findings reveal that even remote Patagonian coastal ecosystems are affected by microplastic pollution from coastal urbanization and call for improved wastewater infrastructure in the region.
Mytilus spp. as sentinels for monitoring microplastic pollution in Norwegian coastal waters: A qualitative and quantitative study
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Researchers collected mussels from 15 sites along Norway's coastline and found microplastics at nearly every location, with remote Arctic sites containing surprisingly high levels — often more than sites near major cities. The study confirms that mussels are useful sentinels for monitoring microplastic pollution in coastal waters, with fibers making up 83% of all particles found.
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Researchers assessed microplastic pollution in benthic environments near Puerto Madryn, Patagonia, finding microplastics present in mussels, small fishes, and bottom water at all sampled sites, with average concentrations of 1.6 items per gram wet weight in fish and 10.5 items per liter in bottom water.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.