Effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on the amino acid composition of Asian Clam (Corbicula fluminea)

Because the effect of nanoplastics (NPs) on muscle nutrition is poorly understood, a systematic study of the growth performance, tissue damage, and amino acid composition of Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea) under polystyrene nanoplastic (PS-NP) treatment was performed by combining short- and long-term treatments together. The primary results showed the shell length, height, and width increased as time progressed, whereas the body weight of C. fluminea revealed no significant difference between the PS-NP–treated clams and the blank control during the entire experiment. Histopathology analyses manifested the inflammatory cell infiltration and vacuolization rates of gill, gut, gonads, and muscle were elevated under PS-NP treatment in comparison with those of the blank control, indicating PS-NP–induced tissue damage occurred irreversibly. Downregulated SOD activity and upregulated CAT and GPX activities were detected, accompanied by increased MDA and GSH levels, suggesting PS-NPs induced tissues damage associated with its role as an antioxidant system disruptor. Levels of four bitter amino acids (Val, Met, Ile, Leu) significantly increased in the PS-NP-treated group compared to levels in the blank control, which was the dominant variation in muscle nutrition. As a result of these changes, the meat quality of C. fluminea decreased, which is a novel discovery of this work.