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First register of microplastic contamination in oysters (Crassostrea gasar) farmed in Amazonian estuaries
Summary
This is the first study to document microplastic contamination in farmed oysters from the Amazon region of Brazil, finding that 58% of the oysters contained microplastics, mainly nylon fibers. The particles accumulated most in the oysters' digestive glands and reproductive organs. Since oyster farming is an important food source and livelihood in the Amazon, the findings highlight a need for better monitoring and depuration systems to reduce human exposure to microplastics through shellfish.
The present study investigated the contamination of oysters farmed in Amazonian estuaries by microplastics (MPs). A total of 120 adult oysters (Crassostrea gasar) were collected from four sites along the Mangrove Coast of Pará/Brazil: S1, S2, S3 and S4, with 30 oyster for each. Overall, 58.33 % of the oyster samples contained microplastics, with mean concentrations of 0.23 MPs/g and 1.9 MPs/ind. The concentration of microplastics varied among the four sites, where S1 and S3 had the highest values while S4 had the lowest. PA fibers were the majority of particles (91 %), followed by PS fragments (9 %). The hepatopancreas and the gonad concentrated more microplastics than the rest of the body. As an important species for aquaculture in Amazon, we recommend additional regulation to reduce human exposure to microplastics, such as the installation of depuration facilities and constant monitoring of the contamination of oysters from farms in the region.