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Low incidence of microplastic contaminants in Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas Thunberg) from the Salish Sea, USA
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Researchers examined wild Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) from the Salish Sea in Washington State and found a relatively low incidence of microplastic contamination, with approximately 63% of oysters containing microparticles at an average of about 1.75 particles per individual. The results suggest that microplastic burden in this commercially important shellfish may be lower than reported in more heavily polluted regions.
Plastic pollution is a threat to marine life with long term impacts to ecosystems and organisms in the sea. In this study, we quantified the presence of microparticles in wild populations of Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) from the Salish Sea, Washington State. Examination under a dissecting microscope revealed 63% of oysters contained microparticles (~1.75 microparticles per oyster) and microfibers were the dominant type of particles. Using Raman microspectroscopy (RMS) and Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy (μ-FTIR) we found that only ~2% of these microparticles were synthetic and included polymers such as polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(bisphenol A carbonate), rayon, and polyacrylate. It is important to note that of the 447 microparticles analyzed with RMS, 41% showed fluorescence interference, impeding the determination of their identification. The remaining microparticles were cellulose derivatives, shell fragments, biological or proteinaceous material, salts, minerals, and gypsum. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy equipped with a diamond attenuated total reflectance accessory (ATR-FTIR) showed the presence of sorbitan derivatives in all samples examined (n = 213). These findings provide the first baseline for microplastic and other particles in oysters from the west coast of the United States integrating results from ATR-FTIR, μ-FTIR, and RMS, in addition to visual sorting. These results suggest there is low retention of plastic particles in Pacific oysters from the Salish Sea, but further research is needed to determine the composition of microparticles with fluorescence interference.
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This study established baseline levels of microplastic contamination in Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) grown for human consumption in a coastal aquaculture operation. Establishing baselines is essential for tracking changes in contamination over time and assessing the human health implications of eating contaminated shellfish.
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Researchers measured microplastic abundance and characteristics in wild oysters and farmed clams from Jiaozhou Bay, China, finding contamination at moderate levels. Fibers dominated the microplastic composition in both species. As commercially important shellfish consumed by people, these organisms represent a human dietary exposure pathway for microplastics.
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Pacific oysters and razor clams from Oregon were found to contain microplastics, with concentrations varying by species, location, and season. The findings have direct relevance for human health since both species are commercially harvested and consumed.
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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.