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Microplastic ingestion in mussels from the East Mediterranean Sea: Exploring its impacts in nature and controlled conditions
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Mussels from fish farms in the eastern Mediterranean had the highest microplastic contamination, likely from plastic aquaculture equipment, while mussels from a Marine Protected Area had the lowest. The study found that higher microplastic levels in mussels were linked to measurable signs of oxidative stress, DNA damage, and nerve toxicity, showing that these filter-feeding shellfish -- commonly eaten by people -- are actively harmed by the plastic particles they ingest.
Microplastic ingestion poses a significant concern for a plethora of marine organisms due to its widespread presence in marine ecosystems. Despite growing scientific interest, the effects on marine biota are not yet well understood. This study investigates the ingestion of microplastics (MPs) by mussels from various marine environments and assesses the associated effects that can be induced by MPs and associated toxic chemicals. Biomarkers of oxidative stress (catalase, lipid peroxidation), biotransformation (glutathione S-transferase), genotoxicity (micronuclei frequency) and neurotoxicity (acetylcholinesterase) were employed. Mussels, considered reliable bioindicators of MPs pollution, were sampled by hand from diverse locations under varied anthropogenic pressures, including a highly touristic Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Ionian Sea, a mussel farm and a fish farm in the Aegean Sea. The results revealed the highest MP ingestion in mussels from the fish farm [0.21 ± 0.04 (SE) MPs/g or 0.63 ± 0.12 (SE) MPs/Ind.], likely due to plastic aquaculture equipment use. Stereoscopic observation revealed fibers, as the predominant shape of ingested MPs across all sites, and μFTIR polymer identification revealed the presence of various types, with polyethylene (PE) and polyamide (PA) being the most abundant. Significant physiological alterations in mussels related to MP ingestion levels were observed through biomarkers indicative of oxidative stress and biotransformation, as well as the Integrated Biomarker Response (IBR index). However, laboratory experiments with mussels exposed to controlled increasing PE concentrations for four weeks, did not show significant effects triggered by the PE ingestion, possibly indicating other environmental factors, such as contaminants from aquaculture environments, may influence biomarker levels in the field. Despite the observed effects, MP ingestion rates in mussels from the field were relatively low compared to other studies. Future research should continue to investigate the interactions between MPs and marine organisms in diverse environments to better understand and mitigate their impacts.
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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.
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.
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.
Microplastic pollution in wild and aquacultured Mediterranean mussels from the Sea of Marmara: Abundance, characteristics, and health risk estimations
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Researchers compared microplastic contamination in wild and commercially farmed mussels from the Sea of Marmara in Turkey. They found microplastics in all mussel samples, with wild mussels containing somewhat different types and amounts compared to aquacultured ones, and fibers being the dominant form in both. The study estimates that regular consumption of these mussels represents a measurable pathway for human exposure to microplastics through seafood.
Assessing the physiological effects of microplastics on cultured mussels in the Mediterranean Sea
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Researchers combined laboratory experiments with computer modeling to assess how microplastics affect farmed Mediterranean mussels. They found that while microplastics reduced the mussels' ability to filter food, the overall impact on growth over a mussel's lifetime was relatively small under current pollution levels. However, the study suggests that in areas with higher microplastic concentrations, the effects on mussel farming could become more significant.
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