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Microplastics in Freshwater Mussels from Northern New York and the Adirondack Park
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Researchers quantified microplastic contamination in freshwater mussels collected from northern New York and the Adirondack Park, a region considered relatively pristine, and found plastic particles present across sampling sites. The detection of microplastics in filter-feeding mussels from protected wilderness areas demonstrates that contamination is pervasive beyond industrial zones and enters the food chain even in remote ecosystems.
The issue of microplastic in the environment is an emerging problem that has ga...
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A Quantitative Analysis of Microplastic Ingestion in Northern New York Bivalves
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Researchers quantified microplastic ingestion in bivalves collected from northern New York waterways, measuring particle counts and types across multiple species. Bivalves are filter feeders that bioaccumulate microplastics directly from their environment, making them both sentinels of freshwater contamination and a dietary exposure route for humans who consume shellfish.
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.
Assess the microplastic prevalence and characterization in bivalve (Lamellidens marginalis): implications for freshwater ecosystems and human health
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Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in 373 freshwater mussels from West Bengal, India, finding an average of 3.76 MPs per gram in gastrointestinal tissue and 1.48 MPs per gram in muscle tissue, with red and black fibers most common and polymer types confirmed via Raman spectroscopy, highlighting implications for food safety and ecosystem health.
Spatial Comparison and Characterization of Microplastic Contamination in Blue Mussels (Mytilus edulis) and Eastern Oysters (Crassostrea virginica) from Nova Scotia, Canada
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Researchers quantified microplastics in blue mussels and eastern oysters at 13 locations across Nova Scotia, Canada, finding average concentrations of roughly 4 particles per gram of tissue, with higher contamination near Halifax and aquaculture areas. Because mussels and oysters are widely consumed whole, these findings confirm meaningful human dietary microplastic exposure from commercially farmed and wild shellfish at concentrations associated with oxidative stress and metabolic disruption in laboratory studies.
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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.