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Impact of Microplastic in Mexican Coastal Areas Using Mussels ( Mytilus spp.) as Biomonitors
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This study used mussels as bioindicators to assess microplastic contamination along the Mexican Pacific coast, finding higher levels of microplastics and associated heavy metals in more urbanized areas. The results suggest potential health risks for people consuming seafood from contaminated coastal areas.
Microplastics (MP) are plastic fragments smaller than 5 mm found in water columns and sediments, posing a threat to marine life due to their toxicological potential for the absorption and release of harmful compounds such as heavy metals. Mussels exhibit high filtration rates with the ability to bioaccumulate microplastics and are considered bioindicators of environmental contamination. The present study aims to evaluate the impact of microplastics in different geographical areas to identify their effects on ecosystems and potential damage to human health, focusing on the bioaccumulation capacity of MP in mussels. Samples of water, sediment, and mussels (Mytilus) from the Central Mexican Pacific were analyzed using optical microscopy and contamination indices. The levels of heavy metals detected at the sampling sites suggest low contamination, according to the Heavy Metal Evaluation Index (HEI). In Juluapan Lagoon, 93% of the MP particles found were fibers, with similar results in Barra de Navidad (75%). In Puerto Interior, Laguna Valle de Garzas, and Juluapan Lagoon, fibers accounted for 100% of the identified MP in water. The concentration of MP in water reached up to 7 MP/L, and 13 MP/mussel in Barra de Navidad. The presence of associated contaminants and MP suggests potential harmful effects on environmental health due to the high bioaccumulation of microplastics in mussels.
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Impact of Microplastic in Mexican Coastal Areas Using Mussels (Mytilus spp.) as Biomonitors
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Mussels (Mytilus spp.) collected along Mexican coastal sites were used as biomonitors for microplastic contamination, with plastic particles found across sampling locations and associated with elevated concentrations of adsorbed heavy metals.
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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.
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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.
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Researchers used marine mussels (Mytilus) as biological indicators to estimate the risk that microplastics pose to ocean ecosystems across different regions, finding that North Pacific Ocean microplastic concentrations had a greater than 90% probability of harming mussel immune function, while South Pacific, Mediterranean, and South Atlantic levels posed lower risks.
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