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Occurrence and confirmation of microplastics in cockles and mussels from aelected sites on the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia using FTIR analysis
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Researchers found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) hiding inside cockles and mussels collected from the coast of Malaysia—common shellfish that end up on dinner plates. Using chemical testing, they confirmed these particles were made of everyday plastics like polypropylene and polystyrene, the same materials found in packaging and plastic bags. This matters because it shows how ocean plastic pollution can work its way into the seafood we eat, though more research is needed to know exactly how much risk this poses to human health.
The global use of plastics continues to increase annually, leading to widespread accumulation of microplastics (<5 mm) in marine ecosystems. These degraded particles often settle in sediments and may be ingested by filter-feeding organisms, enabling microplastics to enter the aquatic food web and potentially pose toxicity risks to consumers. This study aimed to determine the occurrence, physical characteristics, and polymer types of microplastics present in the tissues of two commercially important shellfish species, cockles (Anadara granosa) and mussels (Corbicula leana). Three samples each of cockles and mussels (three replicates per site) were collected from Sebatu, Melaka, and Tanjong Karang, Selangor, representing selected sites along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Possible microplastics were isolated after Nitric Acid (HNO₃) digestion and observed using light and fluorescence microscopy at 40× magnification. Physical characterisation revealed several distinct morphotypes, including red subangular jagged fragments, grey irregular fragments with surface grooves, black elongated fibres with broken edges, red subangular fragments, red spheruloid-shaped pellets, and crystalline clear thin elongated filaments. These characteristics are consistent with the commonly reported forms of microplastics in bivalves worldwide. Polymer identification using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy (4 cm⁻¹ resolution) confirmed the presence of Polypropylene (PP), Polystyrene (PS), and Polyethene (PE) as the dominant polymer types. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) demonstrated clear spatial separation between sampling sites and species, accounting for 96% of the total variance, with significant differences observed between groups (p < 0.05). Overall, this study provides important baseline data on the physical and chemical characteristics of microplastics in Malaysian shellfish and supports future efforts in environmental monitoring, seafood safety assessment, and marine pollution management.
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Investigation of microplastic contamination in blood cockles and green mussels from selected aquaculture farms and markets in Thailand
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Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in blood cockles and green mussels from aquaculture farms and markets in Thailand using fluorescence microscopy and micro-FTIR spectroscopy. They found microplastics present in all samples, with fibers being the most common shape and varying abundance levels across different collection sites. The study raises concerns about microplastic contamination in commercially farmed and sold bivalves as a pathway for human dietary exposure.
Microplastic Contamination in Edible Bivalves and Associated Environmental Health Risks in Coastal Makassar, Indonesia
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Researchers found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) inside edible shellfish harvested from the coast of Makassar, Indonesia, a city where plastic pollution is high and people eat a lot of shellfish. This matters because when you eat contaminated shellfish, you may also be swallowing these plastic particles, raising concerns about potential long-term health effects that scientists are still working to fully understand.
Determination of microplastics in commercial bivalves and estimation of exposure among population in Pasir Penambang, Kuala Selangor
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Researchers measured microplastic abundance and characteristics in commercial bivalves from Pasir Penambang, Malaysia, and estimated human dietary exposure, finding that regular consumption of locally sold shellfish poses a notable microplastic ingestion risk.
Microplastic contamination in mollusc polymesoda
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Researchers found microplastics in Polymesoda clams — a common seafood — at two sites in Malaysia, detecting up to 0.83 plastic particles per individual and identifying 9 different polymer types, raising concerns about human dietary exposure through shellfish consumption.
Assessing Microplastic Contamination in Shellfish: Insights from Pantai Remis Kuala Selangor, Strait of Malacca, Malaysia
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Three commercially harvested shellfish species from Pantai Remis, Malaysia contained microplastics with varying density, color, size, and polymer composition by species, raising food safety concerns about MP exposure through seafood consumption.
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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.