We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Mussel digestive gland as a model tissue for assessing xenobiotics: An overview
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines the mussel digestive gland as a model tissue for biomonitoring xenobiotic contamination in marine environments, covering biomarkers from molecular to cellular levels. The study highlights that mussels' ability to accumulate contaminants, including microplastics, at concentrations higher than surrounding water makes their digestive glands particularly useful for assessing environmental pollution and its biological effects.
Control strategies and routine biomonitoring programs are commonly performed worldwide using sentinel marine invertebrates, such as mussels of the genus Mytilus, for assessing the "health status" of the aquatic environment. Those species can accumulate and tolerate xenobiotics at levels higher than those being present into the aquatic environment, thus providing accurate and reliable biological endpoints (e.g. physiological, behavioral, cellular, biochemical and molecular indices) that can be measured in their tissues. Taking under consideration the significance of bivalves for assessing the environmental hazard of xenobiotics being present into the water medium, as well as the key role of digestive gland as a target-tissue for the compounds ingested in the organism, the present study aimed to summarize available data on the effects of different categories of xenobiotic compounds, previously characterized as a potential threat for the marine ecosystems. In this context, different types of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), biocides, microplastics (MPs) and nanoparticles (NPs), currently investigated in mussels' digestive gland, using a battery of experimental approaches and analytical methods, as well as stress indices evaluation, are briefly described and further discussed in order to elucidate not only the presence and the toxic mode of action of xenobiotics, but also the important role of the digestive gland as a reliable target-tissue for investigating the effects of xenobiotics at cellular, biochemical, and molecular levels.
More Papers Like This
Mussels and Marine Environmental Contaminants
AI summary Read the abstract
This book chapter describes the range of pollutants — including microplastics, heavy metals, and organic chemicals — that accumulate in marine environments and how mussels absorb them. Mussels are widely used as sentinel organisms to monitor ocean contamination because they filter large volumes of water. The chapter covers contamination sources, chemical properties, and detection methods.
Standardized trimodal histopathological examination for microplastic detection and tissue-level assessment in green mussels (Perna viridis) cultivated near an industrial estate in Rayong, Thailand
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers applied a standardised trimodal histopathological examination to detect microplastics in green mussels (Perna viridis) cultivated near an industrial estate in Rayong, Thailand, finding digestive tracts, gills, and digestive glands to be the most informative tissues for biomonitoring, with plastic presence even in tissues showing no obvious lesions.
Mussels as Samplers of Regional Microplastic Contamination Trends
AI summary Read the abstract
This study examined microplastic contamination in the tissues of Mytilus mussels from multiple coastal regions to assess how well mussels serve as bioindicators of environmental plastic pollution. Results helped clarify which environmental and physiological factors most influence microplastic uptake in these filter-feeding animals.
Where are we? Towards an understanding of the selective accumulation of microplastics in mussels
AI summary Read the abstract
This review synthesizes published research on how mussels selectively accumulate microplastics, examining what factors such as particle size, shape, polymer type, and environmental conditions influence which plastics end up in mussel tissue versus being rejected. The study aims to improve the use of mussels as bioindicator species for monitoring marine microplastic pollution by identifying key variables that affect accumulation patterns.
Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis spp.) as sentinel organisms in coastal pollution monitoring: A review
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines the use of blue mussels as sentinel organisms for monitoring coastal water pollution, covering their ability to accumulate a wide range of contaminants including microplastics. Researchers discuss how mussels bioaccumulate pollutants in proportion to environmental levels, making them reliable indicators of water quality. The paper also highlights emerging concerns like nanomaterials and climate change effects on mussel-based monitoring programs.
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.