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Microplastics in blue mussels and beach sediments : a study of Hovedøya in the inner Oslo Fjord
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Microplastic abundance was assessed in blue mussels and beach sediments at six sites around Hovedoya island in the inner Oslo Fjord, providing baseline data on microplastic contamination in a semi-enclosed Norwegian coastal setting. The study contributes to monitoring microplastic accumulation in shellfish and intertidal habitats.
The quality and durability of plastics combined with improper waste management leads to contamination on land, in freshwater and in the marine environment. An increasing scientific concern is that microplastic (plastic particles <5 mm) pose a threat to biota and marine wildlife. There will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050 (by weight) if we continue on the same path as today. This study investigates the microplastic abundance at Hovedøya in the inner Oslo Fjord. Blue mussels (Mytilus spp) and beach sediments were collected from six different beaches facing out in different cardinal directions to represent the whole island. Microplastics were extracted from blue mussels by dissolving organic material with 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH), and beach sediments with a saturated sodium iodide (NaI) density solution. All samples underwent visual identification followed by chemical confirmation with a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR). Microplastics were found at every beach, in blue mussels and in beach sediments. 51.7% of the blue mussels analysed had ingested microplastics, with an average of 0.70 microplastics per individual and correspondingly 0.17 microplastics per gram wet weight. The overall average in beach sediments was 117.29 MP/m2, while the number of macroplastic items were 1.34 items/m2. Two potential correlations were investigated in this study. Firstly, the correlation between microplastic in blue mussels and sediment from the beach. Secondly, the number of microplastics and macroplastics (plastic items >5 mm) at the same beach. No significant correlation was found.
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Microplastics in blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) : does mussel size and distribution affect the number of microplastic particles found in the mussels?
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Researchers collected 213 blue mussels from three sites in the Oslo fjord to investigate whether mussel body size affects the number of microplastic particles found in their tissues. They found microplastics in mussels across size classes, with differences in particle counts between sites and size groups. The study contributes to understanding how mussel size and sampling location affect microplastic bioaccumulation in this commonly used sentinel species.
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Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) from coastal Norwegian waters were examined for microplastic contamination, with particles identified by visual inspection and Raman spectroscopy. The study documents the types and abundances of microplastics ingested by wild mussels, which are widely consumed as seafood, raising questions about human dietary exposure.
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