We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
A year-long monitorization of microplastic pollution in a bivalve aquaculture located at a coastal lagoon from Portugal
Summary
Researchers conducted a year-long quarterly monitoring study of microplastic contamination in Crassostrea gigas (diploid and triploid) and Ruditapes philippinarum bivalves from a Portuguese coastal lagoon aquaculture, alongside monthly water and sediment sampling. Microplastics were detected in every environmental matrix and in all tissue types examined, including muscle, digestive gland, gills, and visceral mass, demonstrating persistent contamination throughout the aquaculture system.
Marine bivalves, organisms with a worldwide distribution, have an essential role in ecosystem structure and functioning. Some species consumed by humans are considered economically valuable. Nowadays, in order to meet the worldwide demand for seafood resources without putting the natural stocks at risk of overharvesting, marine bivalves are primarily obtained from aquaculture production. Marine bivalves are often produced in aquacultures located in transitional waters systems, which are considered ideal sites for their optimal development. However, these systems are impacted by a substantial number of pollutants, including microplastics, that may cause adverse effects in the marine bivalves produced for human consumption. In this study, a year-long monitorization was conducted in a bivalve aquaculture located in the Ria de Aveiro coastal lagoon, Portugal, to understand the occurrence of microplastic pollution in different environmental matrices: marine bivalves, water and sediment. Crassostrea gigas (diploids and triploids) and Ruditapes philippinarum were the bivalve species studied and were sampled once every three months, from September 2019 to July 2020. The occurrence of microplastics in these species was examined at the tissue level, with observation of separate tissues (muscle, digestive gland, gills, remaining visceral mass). Water and sediments were collected once a month from September 2019 to September 2020. Microplastics were found in every environmental matrix. Microplastics were detected in higher quantities in sediments, followed by water surface and marine bivalve species. Fragments, fibers and films were common types of microplastics found and their colours included blue, pink, white, and others. FTIR analysis revealed that the most prevalent polymers found in the aquaculture were polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. Further investigation will be conducted to assess the possible effects of the presence of these common microplastic polymers in the marine bivalves produced for human consumption. Also see: https://micro2022.sciencesconf.org/427052/document
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
One-year variation in quantity and properties of microplastics in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and cockles (Cerastoderma edule) from Aveiro lagoon
Researchers sampled mussels and cockles from the Aveiro lagoon in Portugal monthly throughout 2019 and found that microplastic quantity and properties (shape, size, color, polymer type) varied significantly across seasons, highlighting the importance of temporal sampling for accurate bivalve contamination assessments.
Abundance, composition, and distribution of microplastics in intertidal sediment and soft tissues of four species of Bivalvia from Southeast Brazilian urban beaches
Researchers found 100% microplastic contamination in intertidal sediments and four bivalve species from urbanized Brazilian beaches, identifying polypropylene, polyethylene, and PET polymers in organisms commonly consumed by humans.
Presence of microplastics in six bivalve species (Mollusca, Bivalvia) commercially exploited at the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, Central America
Researchers found microplastics in all six commercially exploited bivalve species sampled from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, with prevalence ranging from 74% to 100% across species, raising concerns about human exposure through seafood consumption in Central American coastal communities.
Microplastic pollution in marine bivalves, surface water and sediments from an aquaculture in Portugal and possible intake by humans
Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in oysters, clams, surface water, and sediments at a Portuguese shellfish farm and estimated the resulting daily human intake from consuming these organisms. Diploid oysters and clams had higher microplastic levels than triploid oysters, and seasonal differences in accumulation were observed. The study provides practical estimates of how much microplastic people may consume through shellfish, contributing to ongoing efforts to quantify dietary exposure.
Microplastic contamination in Bivalves: An assessment of potential health risks to humans and bivalves in the Tam Giang Lagoon
Researchers analysed microplastic contamination in three bivalve species from Tam Giang Lagoon in Vietnam, finding 291 MP particles across 36 specimens, with clams showing the highest burden (67% of total MPs). The findings indicate significant human dietary MP exposure from lagoon bivalves and call for monitoring of this food source.