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Exposure to microplastics reduces attachment strength and alters the haemolymph proteome of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis)

Environmental Pollution 2018 226 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 55 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Dannielle S. Green, Dannielle S. Green, Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Dannielle S. Green, Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Dannielle S. Green, Dannielle S. Green, Dannielle S. Green, Thomas J. Colgan, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson James C. Carolan, Dannielle S. Green, Dannielle S. Green, Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Dannielle S. Green, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson

Summary

Researchers found that blue mussels exposed to polyethylene microplastics for 52 days produced fewer attachment threads and lost about 50% of their grip strength. Both conventional and biodegradable microplastics altered proteins in the mussels' blood involved in immune regulation, metabolism, and structural development, suggesting microplastics could undermine reef formation.

Polymers

PE PLA

Body Systems

Immune

Models

Invertebrate other

The contamination of marine ecosystems with microplastics, such as the polymer polyethylene, a commonly used component of single-use packaging, is of global concern. Although it has been suggested that biodegradable polymers, such as polylactic acid, may be used to replace some polyethylene packaging, little is known about their effects on marine organisms. Blue mussels, Mytilus edulis, have become a "model organism" for investigating the effects of microplastics in marine ecosystems. We show here that repeated exposure, over a period of 52 days in an outdoor mesocosm setting, of M. edulis to polyethylene microplastics reduced the number of byssal threads produced and the attachment strength (tenacity) by ∼50%. Exposure to either type of microplastic altered the haemolymph proteome and, although a conserved response to microplastic exposure was observed, overall polyethylene resulted in more changes to protein abundances than polylactic acid. Many of the proteins affected are involved in vital biological processes, such as immune regulation, detoxification, metabolism and structural development. Our study highlights the utility of mass spectrometry-based proteomics to assess the health of key marine organisms and identifies the potential mechanisms by which microplastics, both conventional and biodegradable, could affect their ability to form and maintain reefs.

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