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Oxidative Stress in Mussel Mytilus trossulus Induced by Different-Sized Plastics
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Researchers exposed mussels to both tiny polystyrene microparticles and larger polyethylene plastic fragments and found that both sizes triggered oxidative stress in the animals. The plastic exposure caused DNA damage, weakened cellular membranes, and destabilized immune cell structures in the mussels' gills and digestive glands. The findings indicate that plastics of any size and polymer type can be harmful to marine filter-feeding organisms.
Polyethylene and polystyrene are massively used around the world in various applications and are the most abundant plastic waste. Once in the marine environment, under the influence of physical and chemical factors, plastic products degrade, changing from the size category of macroplastics to microplastics. In order to study the effect of plastic on marine organisms, we modeled the conditions of environmental pollution with different-sized plastic-polystyrene microparticles of 0.9 µm and macro-sized polyethylene fragments of 10 cm-and compared their effect on biochemical parameters in the tissues of the bivalve mollusk Mytilus trossulus. Using biomarkers, it was found that regardless of the size and type of polymer, polystyrene microparticles and polyethylene macrofragments induced the development of oxidative stress in mussels. A significant decrease in the level of lysosomal stability in mussel hemocytes was observed. Increases in the level of DNA damage and the concentration of malonic dialdehyde in the cells of gills and the digestive gland were also shown. The level of total antiradical activity in cells varied and had a tissue-specific character. It was shown that both ingested polystyrene particles and leachable chemical compounds from polyethylene are toxic for mussels.
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Effects of environmentally relevant levels of polyethylene microplastic on Mytilus galloprovincialis (Mollusca: Bivalvia): filtration rate and oxidative stress
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Researchers exposed Mediterranean mussels to polyethylene microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations and found significant reductions in filtration rate and signs of oxidative damage in the digestive gland. The study suggests that microplastics as small as 40-48 micrometers can disrupt antioxidant defenses in bivalves even at low concentrations, raising concerns about their impact on marine filter-feeders.
Size-dependent effects of plastic particles on antioxidant and immune responses of the thick-shelled mussel Mytilus coruscus
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Mussels exposed to plastic particles ranging from 70 nanometers to 100 micrometers showed that smaller particles caused more severe damage, including higher oxidative stress and greater immune system suppression. After 30 days of exposure, the mussels' immune cells had reduced ability to fight off threats through phagocytosis (the process of engulfing invaders). A seven-day recovery period reversed some effects, but the study highlights how chronic nanoplastic exposure may weaken marine organisms' defenses.
Ingestion of microplastics by Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis): Influence of particle size on histopathological and oxidative stress responses
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This study investigated how Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) respond to microplastic ingestion with varying particle sizes, examining histopathological changes and oxidative stress indicators in tissues. The findings reveal that microplastic exposure causes tissue-level damage and oxidative stress in commercially important shellfish, with implications for seafood safety.
Biomarker Responses in the Marine Mussel Mytilus Edulis Indicate Significant Toxicological Effects of Polyethylene Microplastics
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Scientists exposed mussels to microplastic particles for just three days and found real damage: broken DNA, cell stress, and weakened internal cell defenses. Since mussels and other shellfish are commonly eaten and also serve as an early warning system for ocean pollution, this research suggests microplastics in our waters could be causing cellular harm—though more research is needed to know what this means for people who eat seafood or are otherwise exposed to microplastics long-term.
Polystyrene micro and nanoplastics: A comparative study of the cytotoxic effects exerted on Mytilus galloprovincialis gills
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Researchers compared the toxic effects of micro-sized and nano-sized polystyrene particles on the gills of Mediterranean mussels. Both sizes caused oxidative damage, tissue alterations, and immune responses, but nanoplastics consistently produced more severe effects. The findings suggest that smaller plastic particles pose a greater threat to the gill function of filter-feeding shellfish, potentially impairing their ability to collect food and breathe.
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