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Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in retail mussels from Cape Town, South Africa
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Microplastics were found in retail mussels from Cape Town, South Africa, with fibers being the most prevalent type and polyester the dominant polymer, raising food safety concerns for one of the country's most widely consumed shellfish.
With the increased occurrence of plastics in the marine environment, ingestion of microplastics (MPs) by marine invertebrates such as mussels is increasing globally. This study investigated the occurrence of microplastics in mussels sold at supermarkets and wholesalers in Cape Town, South Africa. Soft tissue was extracted from mussels, digested and identified by microscopy and FTIR-ATR. MP filaments (70%) and fragments (30%) were the only types of MPs identified and an average of 0.04 MPs/g soft tissue and 3.8 MPs/mussel recorded. Blue/green (44%) and black/grey (40%), smaller than 2000 μm were the most prominent MPs recorded and the main polymer type was filamentous polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Our results suggest that retail mussels in Cape Town do not contain as high concentrations of MPs when compared to other investigations and routine monitoring of seafood in the country is suggested.
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Microplastics in Mussels Along the Coast of Cape Town, South Africa
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Researchers detected microplastics in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) collected along the Cape Town coastline in South Africa, providing one of the first documented records of microplastic contamination in marine invertebrates from the southern African region. The findings suggest widespread plastic pollution reaching filter-feeding organisms in coastal waters.
Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Water and Mussels Sampled from Cape Town Harbour and Two Oceans Aquarium, South Africa
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Researchers characterized microplastics in water and mussels from Cape Town Harbour and the Two Oceans Aquarium in South Africa over two years, finding mainly filamentous particles averaging 7.5 microplastics per mussel and conducting risk assessments of contamination levels.
Major characteristics of microplastics in mussels from the Portuguese coast
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Microplastics were characterized in mussels (Mytilus spp.) collected from the Portuguese coast, documenting abundance, shape, color, and polymer composition, with fibers and fragments dominated by polyester and polyethylene.
Characteristics and risk assessment of microplastics in water and mussels sampled from Cape Town Harbour and Two Oceans Aquarium, South Africa
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Researchers characterized microplastics in water and mussel samples from Cape Town Harbour and the Two Oceans Aquarium in South Africa, finding primarily fibrous black or grey particles between 1 and 2 mm in size. The study provides baseline data for microplastic contamination in a major South African port and a controlled aquarium environment.
More than just food: mussels as biomonitors of microplastic pollution in the KwaZulu-Natal coastal environment
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This South African study investigated mussels as biomonitors of microplastic fiber pollution along the KwaZulu-Natal coast, developing novel laboratory methodology for accurately estimating fiber uptake — supporting mussels' role as a standard indicator species for coastal plastic contamination.
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.