We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Effectiveness of pre-processing interventions for microplastic reduction in freshwater and coastal bivalves: Insights for seafood safety and pollution mitigation
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists tested ways to remove tiny plastic particles from shellfish like mussels and clams that people commonly eat. They found that letting shellfish sit in clean water for 3 days and removing certain body parts can reduce plastic contamination by up to 69%, but the smallest plastic pieces still remain. This research matters because it shows simple steps seafood processors and consumers can take to reduce the amount of plastic we eat, though it can't eliminate the problem completely.
Microplastic (MPs) contamination in aquatic ecosystems poses escalating ecological and food safety concerns, with bivalves serving as effective sentinel organisms for pollution monitoring. However, data on tropical species and the effectiveness of commonly applied post-harvest pre-processing interventions remain limited. This study quantified MPs abundance, characteristics, and removal efficiency in three commercially important tropical bivalves Lamellidens marginalis , Meretrix casta , and Perna viridis collected from freshwater, estuarine, and coastal habitats in Maharashtra, India ( n = 540). Specimens were analyzed in untreated and sequentially treated states, including depuration (24–72 h), surface cleaning of edible tissues, and gill removal. Depuration durations were selected to reflect typical short-term post-harvest holding practices relevant to consumer exposure. MPs concentrations in fresh samples ranged from 3.8 ± 0.41 to 12.4 ± 1.15 items/g wet tissue, dominated by fibres and fragments, with polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as the most prevalent polymers. MPs abundance declined progressively with depuration across all species, reaching approximately 50–60% reduction after 72 h ( L. marginalis : 6.87 to 2.75 items/g; P. viridis : 10.61 to 5.03 items/g; M. casta : 9.32 to 4.66 items/g). Surface cleaning and gill excision produced additional, species-specific reductions, with combined interventions achieving up to 69.4% removal in P. viridis . Treatment and species effects were statistically significant ( p < 0.05). Despite these reductions, fine MPs (<100 μm) persisted across all interventions. Morphotype and polymer profiles shifted following treatment, with fibres preferentially removed during gill excision, while smaller fragments showed greater resistance to elimination. These findings demonstrate that conventional depuration and anatomical pre-processing can substantially reduce, but not eliminate, MPs contamination in tropical bivalves. The persistence of fine and polymer-specific MPs highlights the need for integrated mitigation strategies and standardized monitoring frameworks to safeguard seafood safety in tropical aquatic and aquaculture systems. • Pre-processing reduces microplastic (MPs) loads in edible tropical bivalves. • Depuration (24–72 h) decreases MPs loads; gill removal is the most effective step. • Larger MPs (>500 μm) are removed more readily, whereas smaller particles persist. • Interspecies differences reflect ecological, anatomical, and feeding traits. • These findings inform consumer-relevant strategies to reduce dietary MPs exposure.
More Papers Like This
Extraction and identification of microplastics from mussels: Method development and preliminary results
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists developed and validated a method for extracting and identifying microplastics from mussel tissue, then applied it to measure contamination in commercially harvested mussels. The method produced reliable, reproducible results, providing a practical tool for monitoring microplastic levels in one of the world's most widely consumed shellfish.
Microplastic Contamination in Edible Bivalves and Associated Environmental Health Risks in Coastal Makassar, Indonesia
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) inside edible shellfish harvested from the coast of Makassar, Indonesia, a city where plastic pollution is high and people eat a lot of shellfish. This matters because when you eat contaminated shellfish, you may also be swallowing these plastic particles, raising concerns about potential long-term health effects that scientists are still working to fully understand.
Depuration reduces microplastic content in wild and farmed mussels
AI summary Read the abstract
Wild and farmed mussels from Guanabara Bay, Brazil were found to contain microplastics, and a 96-hour depuration period significantly reduced but did not fully eliminate microplastic content. The study demonstrates that depuration can reduce microplastic burden in commercially sold shellfish, with important implications for seafood safety.
Optimisation of Small Microplastic Extraction and Quantification from Marine Tissues
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists developed a better way to find and count tiny plastic particles (called microplastics) inside sea creatures like mussels. This is important because these plastic pieces can build up in seafood that people eat, but until now it was hard for researchers to detect the smallest particles. The improved method will help scientists better track plastic pollution in our food chain and understand potential health risks.
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.
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.