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Quantification and characterization of microplastics in blue mussels (Mytilus edulis): protocol setup and preliminary data on the contamination of the French Atlantic coast
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Researchers quantified and characterized microplastics in blue mussels from a study site, finding microplastics in a large proportion of sampled individuals and documenting the types and sizes of particles present.
Microplastics (MPs) constitute a main environmental issue due to their threat to marine organisms and so far to humans. The lack of a fast standard protocol in MP isolation and identification from living organisms bring to challenge for the science. In this paper, an optimized protocol using potassium hydroxide 10% (KOH 10%; m/v) for digestion of mussel soft tissues (Mytilus edulis) and multi-steps of sedimentation has been developed. Efficiency higher than 99.9% of organic and mineral matter elimination was shown by application on mussels sampled on the French Atlantic coast. The identification of MPs was performed by FTIR microscopy straight on the filter and the whole analysis can be compatible with a routine goal. Fourteen MPs of four different chemical natures were found and identified in 5 pools of 3 sampled mussels. Their size ranged from 30 to 200 μm. Further investigations are now needed to evaluate the potential risk of such particles within this marine bivalve species and other filter feeders.
More Papers Like This
Quantification and characterization of microplastics in blue mussels (Mytilus edulis): protocol setup and preliminary data on the contamination of the French Atlantic coast
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This international study developed protocols for quantifying and characterizing microplastics in blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) and reported preliminary contamination data from France's Atlantic coast, where mussels are both a key biomonitor species and a widely consumed seafood.
Microplastics in blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) : does mussel size and distribution affect the number of microplastic particles found in the mussels?
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Researchers collected 213 blue mussels from three sites in the Oslo fjord to investigate whether mussel body size affects the number of microplastic particles found in their tissues. They found microplastics in mussels across size classes, with differences in particle counts between sites and size groups. The study contributes to understanding how mussel size and sampling location affect microplastic bioaccumulation in this commonly used sentinel species.
Factors influencing the microplastic contamination of bivalves from the French Atlantic coast: Location, season and/or mode of life?
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This study characterized microplastic contamination in blue mussels and Pacific oysters collected from the French Atlantic coast, examining how season, location, and organism size influence contamination levels. The findings provide a baseline for monitoring bivalve contamination and informing seafood safety assessments.
En undersokning om forekomsten av mikroplast i vastsvenska blamusslor (Mytilus edulis).
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This Swedish study examined the occurrence of microplastics in blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) collected from the West Swedish coast, contributing to data on microplastic contamination in edible shellfish from the North Sea region. The findings are relevant to assessing human dietary exposure to microplastics through seafood consumption.
Spatial Comparison and Characterization of Microplastic Contamination in Blue Mussels (Mytilus edulis) and Eastern Oysters (Crassostrea virginica) from Nova Scotia, Canada
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Researchers quantified microplastics in blue mussels and eastern oysters at 13 locations across Nova Scotia, Canada, finding average concentrations of roughly 4 particles per gram of tissue, with higher contamination near Halifax and aquaculture areas. Because mussels and oysters are widely consumed whole, these findings confirm meaningful human dietary microplastic exposure from commercially farmed and wild shellfish at concentrations associated with oxidative stress and metabolic disruption in laboratory studies.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.