We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Where have all the beads gone? Fate of microplastics in a closed exposure system and their effects on clearance rates in Mytilus spp.
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers discovered significant losses of polystyrene microbeads from closed experimental systems with mussels, indicating that exposure concentrations are often lower than intended in lab studies, while also observing that microplastic presence reduced mussel clearance rates.
The fate of microplastic particles (MP) in exposure experiments is mostly unclear. We measured the recovery of polystyrene (PS) microbeads, which were applied in various concentrations from 0.07 to 47.47 beads/ml, from the different compartments of an experimental system with mussels (Mytilus spp.). At the end of the experiment, we detected a significant loss of MP indicating that the mussels were exposed to less particles than intended. If such a discrepancy remains un-recognized by the experimenter, observed effects are related to an inaccurate particle concentration. Additionally, we observed reduced clearance rates of the mussels in the presence of MP and the effect size increased with increasing particle concentration. This effect was more pronounced in mussels that had recently spawned than in mussels that still had mature gonads. This is a hint that effects of MP may depend on the reproductive status of an organism.
More Papers Like This
The fate of microplastics during uptake and depuration phases in a blue mussel exposure system
AI summary Read the abstract
A controlled exposure system tracked the fate of polystyrene microplastic beads in blue mussels during uptake and depuration phases, showing that mussels accumulated beads in the digestive gland and that depuration cleared most but not all particles over 24 hours. The mass balance approach provides a rigorous method for quantifying microplastic retention in bivalves.
Do Polystyrene Beads Contribute to Accumulation of Methylmercury in Oysters?
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied whether polystyrene microplastic beads contribute to methylmercury bioaccumulation in oysters (Crassostrea gigas), examining the sorption of methylmercury onto plastic beads and evaluating whether ingestion of contaminated beads elevated mercury levels in oyster tissue.
Are microplastics impacting shellfish?
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated whether microplastic contamination measurably impacts shellfish physiology, growth, reproduction, and health outcomes, assessing the ecological and food safety implications of microplastic exposure in commercially and ecologically important bivalve species.
Studies of the effects of microplastics on aquatic organisms: What do we know and where should we focus our efforts in the future?
AI summary Read the abstract
This review critically evaluates published research on microplastic effects on aquatic organisms and identifies significant gaps between laboratory experiments and real-world conditions. Researchers found that most studies use polystyrene spheres at concentrations far higher than those found in the environment, while the most common microplastics in nature are fragments and fibers of other polymer types. The study calls for more environmentally realistic experimental designs to better understand the actual ecological risks of microplastic pollution.
Effects of microplastics on bivalves: Are experimental settings reflecting conditions in the field?
AI summary Read the abstract
A critical comparison of experimental microplastic studies on bivalves found that most laboratory studies used particle concentrations far exceeding environmental levels and polymer types that differ from field observations, concluding that many reported toxic effects may not be ecologically relevant and calling for environmentally realistic experimental designs.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.