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More than just food: mussels as biomonitors of microplastic pollution in the KwaZulu-Natal coastal environment
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This South African study investigated mussels as biomonitors of microplastic fiber pollution along the KwaZulu-Natal coast, developing novel laboratory methodology for accurately estimating fiber uptake — supporting mussels' role as a standard indicator species for coastal plastic contamination.
A novel macro-based methodology for accurate estimation of microplastic fibre uptake in mussels under laboratory conditions (In preparation).
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Using mussel as a global bioindicator of coastal microplastic pollution
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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.
The Mediterranean Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis as a Biomonitor for Microplastic Pollution
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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.
Marine and freshwater mussels as biomonitors for microplastic concentrations: A comparative laboratory study
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Researchers compared marine and freshwater mussels as biomonitors for microplastic pollution in a controlled laboratory study, evaluating whether these filter-feeding bivalves can serve as a complementary monitoring tool to sampling nets — particularly for small microplastics under 25 µm that nets tend to miss.
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Microplastics were found in retail mussels from Cape Town, South Africa, with fibers being the most prevalent type and polyester the dominant polymer, raising food safety concerns for one of the country's most widely consumed shellfish.
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Researchers tested three South American mussel species and found that all of them accumulated microplastics in their tissues, feces, and pseudofeces, suggesting these bivalves can serve as reliable bioindicators — living monitors — for microplastic contamination in coastal waterways.
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.