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Realistic environmental exposure to microplastics does not induce biological effects in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas
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Pacific oysters were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of polyethylene and polypropylene fragments for 10 days followed by depuration, with microplastics detected in tissues but no significant effects on clearance rate, tissue integrity, antioxidant defense, or DNA damage. The results suggest that realistic environmental concentrations of these larger fragments may not cause measurable biological harm to oysters.
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence and potential toxic effects of plastic fragments (<400 μm) of polyethylene and polypropylene on the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. Oysters were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations (0, 0.008, 10, 100 μg of particles/L) during 10 days, followed by a depuration period of 10 days in clean seawater. Effects of microplastics were evaluated on the clearance rate of organisms, tissue alteration, antioxidant defense, immune alteration and DNA damage. Detection and quantification of microplastics in oyster's tissues (digestive gland, gills and other tissues) and biodeposits using infrared microscopy were also conducted. Microplastics were detected in oyster's biodeposits following exposure to all tested concentrations: 0.003, 0.006 and 0.05 particles/mg of biodeposits in oysters exposed to 0.008, 10 and 100 μg of particles/L, respectively. No significant modulation of biological markers was measured in organisms exposed to microplastics in environmentally relevant conditions.
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Toxic effects of exposure to microplastics with environmentally relevant shapes and concentrations: Accumulation, energy metabolism and tissue damage in oyster Crassostrea gigas
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Researchers exposed oysters to irregularly shaped polyethylene and PET microplastics at two concentrations for 21 days and measured accumulation, energy metabolism, and tissue damage. They found that the microplastics accumulated in oyster tissues, disrupted energy metabolism, and caused histological damage, with effects varying by polymer type and concentration. The study suggests that environmentally realistic microplastic shapes and concentrations can cause measurable harm to commercially important shellfish species.
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Scientists found that oysters exposed to microplastics for weeks build up the most plastic in their digestive glands, and this buildup was linked to stress hormones, liver-related enzymes, and immune changes. Since oysters are widely eaten, this suggests microplastic pollution could affect the health and safety of seafood, though more research is needed to know what this means for humans.
Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of the toxic effects of PE microplastics on the Kumamoto oyster (Crassostrea sikamea)
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Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (from everyday polyethylene, used in bags and packaging) cause real damage to oysters—stressing their cells, disrupting their metabolism, and weakening their immune systems—and smaller particles caused more harm than larger ones. Since oysters are commonly eaten seafood that filter these particles from water, this research is a reminder that the microplastics accumulating in our oceans could be building up in the food we eat, making it important to understand these effects as we assess risks to both marine life and human health.
Do Environmentally Relevant Concentrations of Microplastics Pose a Threat to the Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea Virginica?
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This study exposed eastern oysters to polyester microfibers at environmentally realistic concentrations for 45 days, finding that even low doses affected their physiology including feeding, growth, and energy use. The results suggest that ecologically relevant microplastic levels may pose a threat to commercially important filter-feeding shellfish.
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.
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