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Occurrence of microplastics in Mytilus edulis and Arenicola marina collected along the French-Belgian-Dutch coast
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Researchers measured microplastics in blue mussels and lugworms collected from beaches along the French, Belgian, and Dutch coasts, finding microplastics in both species at levels reflecting environmental concentrations. The study bridged the gap between high-concentration lab experiments and field reality by documenting actual microplastic contamination in these commonly consumed and studied marine species.
It is difficult to assess the relevance (risks of adverse effects) of laboratory observervations concerning the ingestion of microplastics, since the exposure concentrations (range 1 000 – 50 000 mg.kg-1 sediment) are over a thousand times higher than any concentration observed in the field (range <1 – 200 mg.kg-1sediment). The aim of this project was to study the presence, and if present, the concentrations of microplastics in two marine species in the field: (i) the blue mussel Mytilus edulis and (ii) the lugworm Arenicola marina.
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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.