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Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis spp.) as sentinel organisms in coastal pollution monitoring: A review
Summary
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.
The blue mussel (Mytilus spp.) is widely used as a bioindicator for monitoring of coastal water pollution (mussel watch programs). Herein we provide a review of this study field with emphasis on: the suitability of Mytilus spp. as environmental sentinels; uptake and bioaccumulation patterns of key pollutant classes; the use of Mytilus spp. in mussel watch programs; recent trends in Norwegian mussel monitoring; environmental quality standards and background concentrations of key contaminants; pollutant effect biomarkers; confounding factors; particulate contaminants (microplastics, engineered nanomaterials); climate change; harmonization of monitoring procedures; and the use of deployed mussels (transplant caging) in pollution monitoring. Lastly, the overall state of the art of blue mussel pollution monitoring is discussed and some important issues for future research and development are highlighted.
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