We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Froma Global Archived Data Perspective: Larger BivalvesMean More Microplastics?
Summary
Researchers analyzed a global archived dataset on microplastic burdens in bivalves, finding that larger bivalve body size is associated with higher microplastic content, and exploring how biometric parameters such as shell length influence MP accumulation across species.
Bivalves are a significant source of seafood for people, but so far there have been many studies revealing the presence of microplastics (MPs) in bivalves, yet the role of bivalve biometric parameters in link with MP burden in bivalves remains underexplored. Here we collected published data and found that the study region for MPs in bivalves was spread across the globe, reporting approximately 40,000 bivalves and comprising 102 species in 22 families. A linear positive correlation was obtained between average MP abundance (items/individual) and average shell length of bivalves, while a negative exponential relationship between average MP abundance (items/g) and average shell length of bivalves was found. This suggested that larger bivalves tend to contain more MPs (items/individual), but MP abundance (items/g) tends to be lower in larger bivalves. It was conservatively estimated that the annual dietary intake of MPs of bivalves from global 21 countries reached 6.39 × 1012 MPs in 2022. Besides, the study found that the soft tissue wet weight of bivalves is an available parameter to estimate the abundance of MPs in bivalves from markets and aquafarms. The findings of this study will provide valuable information that would help to better understand the global bivalve MP contamination character.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
From a Global Archived Data Perspective: Larger Bivalves Mean More Microplastics?
By compiling data from roughly 40,000 bivalves across 102 species worldwide, researchers discovered that larger shellfish contain more microplastic particles in total, but fewer particles per gram of tissue. Based on this relationship, the study estimates that people worldwide consumed over 6 trillion microplastics through bivalve seafood in 2022 alone. The findings provide a practical tool for predicting microplastic contamination in farmed and wild shellfish, with direct implications for human dietary exposure.
How does bivalve size influence microplastics accumulation?
Researchers surveyed microplastic accumulation in hard clams from a fishery port in southern China and found an average of about 25 microplastic particles per individual clam. The study found that as clam shell size increases, total microplastic count per individual rises but concentration per gram decreases, with fibers, fragments, and polyethylene being the most common types detected.
Microplastics in global bivalve mollusks: A call for protocol standardization
Researchers reviewed 61 studies on microplastic contamination in bivalve mollusks worldwide, finding that these filter-feeding shellfish consistently contain microplastics regardless of location. The study found significant differences in contamination levels between bivalve families based on their habitats, suggesting that both water-dwelling and sediment-dwelling species can be used to monitor different types of microplastic pollution. The authors call for standardized sampling and analysis protocols to enable meaningful comparisons across future studies.
Are microplastics impacting shellfish?
Researchers investigated whether microplastic contamination measurably impacts shellfish physiology, growth, reproduction, and health outcomes, assessing the ecological and food safety implications of microplastic exposure in commercially and ecologically important bivalve species.
Influence of Microplastics on Freshwater Bivalves (Review)
This review analyzed studies on microplastic uptake, bioaccumulation, and biological effects in freshwater bivalves, which serve as both pollution sentinels and vectors for microplastic entry into food webs. The authors found consistent evidence for particle accumulation causing physiological stress, while calling for more standardized exposure protocols to improve cross-study comparability.