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Microplastics in Macomona liliana: A Study of Bioaccumulation and Influencing Environmental Factors
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This study detected microplastic contamination in all 57 Macomona liliana bivalve specimens sampled from Manukau Harbour, New Zealand, with tissue concentrations ranging from 622 to 2,354 µg/g dry weight and polystyrene dominating the polymer composition. Sediment characteristics explained 81% of contamination pattern variance, establishing the first quantitative baseline for microplastic tissue burdens in this endemic and ecologically important species.
Microplastic contamination in coastal ecosystems threatens benthic communities, yet quantitative tissue contamination data for ecologically important species remain scarce, particularly for endemic fauna in Southern Hemisphere coastal systems. This study addressed critical knowledge gaps by investigating microplastic presence, polymer composition, and environmental drivers of contamination in Macomona liliana, an endemic New Zealand bivalve that serves as both an ecosystem engineer and primary prey for protected shorebird populations. Field sampling across ten stations in Manukau Harbour examined spatial variation in contamination patterns. Specimens were analysed using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) for quantitative polymer identification, with the highest confidence in polypropylene measurements. Sediment characteristics were measured to assess potential drivers of tissue microplastic concentration patterns. Microplastic contamination was detected in all M. liliana specimens (n=57), with tissue concentrations ranging from 621.67 to 2353.60 μg/g dry weight. Polymer composition was dominated by polystyrene (49.4% by mass), followed by polyethylene terephthalate (38.0%), polyvinyl chloride (7.0%), and polypropylene (5.6%). Principal component analysis showed that sediment characteristics explained 81.3% variance in contamination patterns, indicating complex, multifactorial control mechanisms. This research provides the first quantitative assessment of microplastic tissue contamination in wild M. liliana populations, despite analytical challenges in biological matrices, and it establishes a foundation for mass-based analytical protocols for ongoing monitoring. These findings contribute essential baseline data for New Zealand coastal ecosystems with implications for protected species management.
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Particle characteristics of microplastics contaminating the mussel Mytilus edulis and their surrounding environments
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Researchers investigated microplastic uptake into mussels (Mytilus edulis) and their surrounding sediment and seawater at nine intertidal sites in southwest England, characterizing particle abundance, size, shape, and polymer composition across environmental compartments and mussel tissue.
Edible bivalves and gastropods as bioindicators of MP pollution: Contamination patterns, and environmental significance
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Shellfish like clams, mussels, and sea snails soak up tiny plastic particles from ocean water and sediment, and this review of existing studies found that snails tend to carry even more microplastic than clams or mussels — especially wild-caught ones. Since we typically eat these creatures whole, guts and all, this contamination matters for seafood lovers, though scientists still need more consistent testing methods to pin down exactly how much plastic ends up on our plates and what that means for our health.
ABUNDANCE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF MICROPLASTICS IN MARKET BIVALVE Aulacomya Atra (MYTILIDAE: BIVALVIA)
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Microplastics were detected in the commercial bivalve Aulacomya atra sold at fisheries markets in three Peruvian provinces, with mean contamination levels and polymer types characterized, highlighting shellfish as a significant route for human microplastic ingestion through seafood consumption.
Microplastics in commercial marine bivalves: Abundance, characterization and main effects of single and combined exposure
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This review summarizes recent findings on microplastic contamination in commercially valuable marine bivalve species, documenting a wide variety of particle shapes, sizes, colors, and polymer types across multiple species. Researchers found that microplastic exposure, alone or combined with other pollutants, triggers immunological, physiological, behavioral, reproductive, genotoxic, and neurotoxic effects in these organisms. The study calls for harmonized research methodologies to enable better comparison of microplastic contamination levels across studies and regions.
Mussels as Samplers of Regional Microplastic Contamination Trends
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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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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.