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First Record of Microplastic Contamination in the Non-Native Dark False Mussel Mytilopsis leucophaeata (Bivalvia: Dreissenidae) in a Coastal Urban Lagoon
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Researchers documented microplastic contamination for the first time in the invasive dark false mussel in a coastal lagoon in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Microplastics were found in all mussel samples, with fibers and fragments being the most common types, and thirteen different polymer types were identified. The study suggests this widespread filter-feeding species could serve as a useful bioindicator for monitoring microplastic pollution in coastal waters.
Microplastic contamination is a global concern due to its conspicuous presence in aquatic ecosystems and its toxic nature to environmental and human health. False mussels are among the most notable fresh- and brackish water invaders. The invasive Mytilopsis leucophaeata in Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon-RFL (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) is the most abundant macrofaunal invertebrate, widely established and distributed throughout the lagoon. This study aimed to assess microplastic contamination in this invasive filter feeder and evaluate its potential use as a bioindicator. Agglomerates (~100 mussels) were manually collected using a stainless-steel spatula in ten sampling areas distributed throughout the whole lagoon and kept frozen. In the laboratory, 60 individuals were sorted by area for soft-tissue digestion. Each pool of 10 soft-tissue mussels (n = 6 by area) was wet-weighted and then placed in a 150-mL decontaminated glass beaker with 50 mL of 10% KOH. Samples were heated (40 °C) for 48 h, and digested samples were filtered in glass-fiber membranes. Microplastics were found in all samples of mussels (n = 60) from RFL; the particles were mostly lower than 100 µm with a mean concentration (±SD) of 35.96 ± 47.64 MPs g wet-weight-1. Microplastics were distinguished in seven shapes with different occurrences in samples (%): fiber (43.3%); fragment (34.3%); film (16.3%); sponge/foam (4.9%); pellet (0.57%), rope/filaments (0.17%); and undefined (0.4%). Thirteen colors of microplastics were found, but transparent (54.94%), black (10.77%), and white (9.36%) were the most common. Mytilopsis leucophaeata were useful to assess microplastic contamination in RFL and might be preferentially used in other invaded brackish systems instead of native and often threatened bivalves. Our results confirm the effective application of bivalves as an indicator of coastal microplastic pollution.
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Microplastics in the bivalve Mytilopsis leucophaeata from a coastal urban lagoon (Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, Rio de Janeiro-Brazil)
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Researchers assessed the invasive mussel Mytilopsis leucophaeata as a bioindicator of microplastic pollution in Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, detecting microplastics in the mussel tissue. Using this well-established, abundant filter feeder as a monitoring species could provide ongoing information about microplastic contamination levels in the lagoon over time.
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