Evidence of internalized microplastics in mussel tissues detected by volumetric Raman imaging

Microplastics are a global ecological concern due to their potential risk to wildlife and human health. Animals ingest microplastics, which can enter the trophic chain and ultimately impact human well-being. The ingestion of microplastics can cause physical and chemical damage to the animals' digestive systems, affecting their health. To estimate the risk to ecosystems and human health, it is crucial to understand the accumulation and localization of ingested microplastics within the cells and tissues of living organisms. However, analyzing this issue is challenging due to the risk of sample contamination, given the ubiquity of microplastics. Here, an analytical approach is employed to confirm the internalization of microplastics in cryogenic cross-sections of mussel tissue. Using 3D Raman confocal microscopy in combination with chemometrics, microplastics measuring 1 μm in size were detected. The results were further validated using optical and fluorescence microscopy. The findings revealed evidence of microplastics being internalized in the digestive epithelial tissues of exposed mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis), specifically within the digestive cells forming digestive alveoli. This study highlights the need to investigate the internalization of microplastics in organisms like mussels, as it helps us understand the potential risks they pose to aquatic biota and ultimately to human health. By employing advanced imaging techniques, challenges associated with sample contamination can be overcome and valuable insights into the impact of microplastics on marine ecosystems and human consumers are provided.