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First Evaluation of Microplastic Content in Benthic Filter-feeders of the Gulf of La Spezia (Ligurian Sea)
Summary
Microplastics were found inside filter-feeding organisms (including sea squirts and mussels) in the Gulf of La Spezia, Italy, with evidence that particles are retained in their tissues. Filter-feeders are commonly eaten by humans, making this contamination a direct concern for seafood safety.
The ingestion and retention of microplastics of filter-feeder organisms represent a risk for the final consumers and the environment. Biomonitoring is necessary to deal with the effects of plastic material pollution. The selection of the monitored organisms strongly affects the relevance of the results and the understanding of the environmental conditions. The results discussed in this paper highlight the differences in the estimate of microplastic pollution depending on the species subject of study. Ascidia spp. specimens retained a value five-fold higher (0.62 MP/g) than bivalve species (Crassostrea gigas 0.11 MP/g; Mytilus galloprovincialis 0.05 MP/g; Anomia ephippium 0.12 MP/g).