We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
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.
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.
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.
Using mussel as a global bioindicator of coastal microplastic pollution
AI summary Read the abstract
This review evaluates whether mussels can serve as reliable global indicators of coastal microplastic pollution. Researchers found that mussels are well suited for this role due to their wide geographic distribution, filter-feeding behavior, and demonstrated ability to accumulate microplastics from surrounding waters. The study identifies remaining challenges in standardizing monitoring methods but concludes that mussels offer a practical and ecologically relevant tool for tracking marine microplastic contamination.
Mussel watch program for microplastics in the Mediterranean sea: Identification of biomarkers of exposure using Mytilus galloprovincialis
AI summary Read the abstract
This review evaluates the use of Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) as bioindicators for monitoring microplastic pollution in the Mediterranean Sea. Researchers identified several promising biomarkers of microplastic exposure in mussels, supporting their use in mussel watch programs for assessing marine environmental quality.
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.
The Mediterranean Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis as a Biomonitor for Microplastic Pollution
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers assessed the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis as a bioindicator for microplastic pollution, focusing on improving quantification of small microplastics below 25 µm that conventional methods miss. Mussels were found to accumulate microplastics efficiently across size ranges, validating their use as biomonitors while highlighting the need for improved analytical methods.
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.