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Apple Snails as Bioindicators of Microplastic Pollution in Singapore's Freshwaters
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Researchers used apple snails as bioindicators to measure microplastic pollution in Singapore's freshwater bodies for the first time, suggesting these snails could serve as a practical and cost-effective tool for tracking plastic contamination in urban water systems.
Microplastics (MPs) are persistent and ubiquitous environmental pollutants that can be difficult to monitor for their presence especially in water bodies. This study reports, for the first time, a quantified analysis of the abundance of MPs in Singapore’s...
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Microplastics in Snails from an Urbanized Creek
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Aquatic snails collected from an urbanized creek in Knoxville, Tennessee were found to contain an average of more than 12 microplastic particles each, with microfibers comprising 92% of the 212 total particles recovered from just 10 specimens. This study demonstrates that urban freshwater invertebrates are heavily exposed to microplastics, with clothing-derived microfibers as the dominant source, raising concerns about contamination moving up the food chain.
Microplastics in Terrestrial Snails
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Land snails collected from forested and grassy sites in Oak Ridge, Tennessee were found to consistently contain 2–5 microplastic particles per individual across 400 specimens and 16 species, demonstrating widespread microplastic uptake in terrestrial gastropods. This research highlights that microplastic contamination extends into relatively undisturbed terrestrial habitats and accumulates in organisms with no direct aquatic exposure, suggesting airborne or soil-based uptake routes.
Microplastics in Freshwater Ecosystems
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Researchers reviewed the widespread presence of microplastics in freshwater environments — including remote lakes and rivers — finding that microfibers from textiles are the most commonly detected type. Since freshwater is a source of drinking water and food, its contamination with microplastics has direct implications for human health.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.