Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

The physiological response of the clam Ruditapes philippinarum and scallop Chlamys farreri to varied concentrations of microplastics exposure

Researchers exposed two types of shellfish (clams and scallops) to polyethylene and PET microplastics and found that both species accumulated the particles in their digestive glands and gills. The exposure caused oxidative stress, disrupted energy and fat metabolism, and damaged tissue, with PET generally being more toxic than polyethylene. Since these are commonly eaten shellfish, the findings raise concerns about microplastic contamination affecting the safety of seafood for human consumers.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Do polyethylene terephthalate microparticles (PET-µPs) affect the oxidative status of the clam Ruditapes philippinarum?

Researchers exposed the clam Ruditapes philippinarum to polyethylene terephthalate microparticles (PET-MPs) to evaluate effects on oxidative status, investigating whether PET plastic degradation products from water bottles and packaging alter antioxidant defenses in this bivalve species.

2022 Global NEST International Conference on Environmental Science & Technology
Article Tier 2

Effects of virgin and BaP-adsorbed microplastics ingestion by Manila clams (Ruditapes philippinarum)

Researchers exposed Manila clams to various microplastic polymer types, shapes, and concentrations, finding that clams preferentially ingested sphere-shaped particles due to their resemblance to microalgae, and that feeding rates declined as microplastic concentrations increased. The addition of benzo[a]pyrene as a co-stressor showed that microplastics can act as vectors for transporting hydrophobic contaminants into bivalve tissues.

2023 Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of exposure to microplastics with environmentally relevant shapes and concentrations: Accumulation, energy metabolism and tissue damage in oyster Crassostrea gigas

Researchers exposed oysters to irregularly shaped polyethylene and PET microplastics at two concentrations for 21 days and measured accumulation, energy metabolism, and tissue damage. They found that the microplastics accumulated in oyster tissues, disrupted energy metabolism, and caused histological damage, with effects varying by polymer type and concentration. The study suggests that environmentally realistic microplastic shapes and concentrations can cause measurable harm to commercially important shellfish species.

2020 Environmental Pollution 213 citations
Article Tier 2

In vivo oxidative stress responses of the freshwater basket clam Corbicula javanicus to microplastic fibres and particles

Researchers found that microplastic exposure caused oxidative stress in freshwater basket clams, with polyester fibers increasing antioxidant enzyme activity while polyethylene fragments decreased it, indicating different toxicological impacts depending on plastic type.

2022 Chemosphere 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of Particle Size on Ecotoxicity of Low-Density Polyethylene Microplastics, with and without Adsorbed Benzo-a-Pyrene, in Clam Scrobicularia plana

Researchers found that smaller polyethylene microplastics (4-6 µm) caused greater biomarker alterations in clam gills, while the digestive gland was more affected overall, suggesting particle size influences microplastic ecotoxicity in marine bivalves.

2022 Biomolecules 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure to pet-made microplastics: Particle size and pH effects on biomolecular responses in mussels

Researchers exposed mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) to PET microplastic fibers of three size classes under two pH conditions, finding that all sizes induced oxidative stress with lipid peroxidation and glutathione peroxidase being the most sensitive biomarkers. Larger particles (0.5-3.0 mm) caused greater effects, and mussels in acidified seawater (pH 7.5) showed lower biomarker expression than those at standard pH (8.0).

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined effects of food and temperature on the chronic toxicity of polyethylene terephthalate microplastic fragments in Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum

Researchers studied the combined effects of food availability and temperature on the toxicity of PET microplastic fragments in Manila clams over 21 days. They found that the presence of food actually increased mortality in clams exposed to microplastics, likely because the clams ingested more plastic particles while feeding. The findings suggest that real-world conditions where food and microplastics coexist may pose greater risks to shellfish than laboratory studies with plastic exposure alone.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Size- and shape-dependent effects of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics on the benthic crustacean Artemia franciscana

Researchers tested how different sizes and shapes of PET microplastics affect juvenile brine shrimp in a sand-layered system simulating the ocean floor. Small fragments that could be ingested caused gut damage and impaired movement, while larger fragments and fibers triggered cell death through physical stress. The findings indicate that the shape and size of microplastics are major factors in determining their harmful effects on bottom-dwelling marine organisms.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Size-dependent toxicological effects and mechanisms of PET microplastics in Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei)

This study exposed Pacific white shrimp to PET microplastics of three different sizes for 21 days and found that smaller particles caused the most harm, reducing growth and swimming ability while causing significant tissue damage. Larger microplastics were less harmful, and the shrimp showed some ability to recover from their effects. The findings are important for aquaculture and food safety because they show that microplastic particle size matters significantly when assessing health risks to commercially important seafood species.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics influence physiological processes, growth and reproduction in the Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum

Researchers found that Manila clams ingesting polystyrene microplastics accumulated particles in their gills, digestive glands, and intestines, leading to increased respiration and excretion rates while reducing feeding efficiency. Modeling predicted that long-term exposure would significantly reduce shell and flesh growth rates as well as reproductive potential. The study provides evidence that microplastics can fundamentally alter energy allocation and physiological processes in filter-feeding bivalves.

2021 Environmental Pollution 90 citations
Article Tier 2

Oxidative stress-related effects induced by micronized polyethylene terephthalate microparticles in the Manila clam

This study investigated the toxic effects of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics on the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus over a 7-day exposure period, finding oxidative stress-related responses including lipid peroxidation and changes in antioxidant enzyme activity. The findings highlight PET as a microplastic type with measurable ecotoxicological impact on marine invertebrates.

2020 Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health 47 citations
Article Tier 2

A comparative study on juvenile Rockfish exposed to fragmented and fibrous PET(Polyethylene Terephthalate) microplastics

This study compared the toxic effects of fragmented versus fibrous PET microplastics on juvenile rockfish following oral administration, measuring apoptosis and immune activity after 72 hours. The shape of microplastics was found to influence the degree of cellular and immune toxicity, with different physical forms producing distinct harm.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Metabolic responses of the marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis after exposure to microplastics of different shapes and sizes

Researchers exposed Mediterranean mussels to microplastics of different shapes and sizes and found that round particles and small fibers accumulated the most in mussel tissues. These same particle types caused the most significant metabolic changes, altering amino acid processing and vitamin pathways. The findings suggest that the shape and size of microplastics play an important role in determining how much harm they cause to marine filter-feeding organisms.

2024 Environmental Pollution 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of polyethylene microplastics on the clam Ruditapes decussatus (Mollusca: Bivalvia): examination of filtration rate, growth, and immunomodulation

Researchers exposed clams to polyethylene microplastics at three different concentrations for 14 days and measured the effects on feeding, growth, and immune function. They found that higher microplastic concentrations reduced the clams' ability to filter water and caused weight loss, while also disrupting immune cell integrity. The study demonstrates that microplastic pollution can impair both the feeding efficiency and immune defenses of shellfish.

2023 Ecotoxicology 18 citations
Article Tier 2

A comparative study on juvenile Rockfish exposed to fragmented and fibrous PET(Polyethylene Terephthalate) microplastics

This study compared the toxic effects of fragmented versus fibrous PET microplastics on juvenile rockfish through oral administration, examining apoptosis and immune cell activity after 72 hours. Results showed that particle shape influences the magnitude and nature of toxic responses in marine fish.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Cellular and tissue-level responses of mussels (Mytilus edulis) to aged polyethylene terephthalate (PET) micro- and nanoplastic particles

This study exposed mussels to environmentally realistic concentrations of aged PET micro- and nanoplastics and found measurable cellular damage even at the lowest doses tested. The plastic particles caused inflammation, oxidative stress, and tissue changes in the mussels' digestive systems. Since mussels are a common seafood and are often eaten whole, these findings are relevant to understanding human microplastic exposure through shellfish consumption.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of nanoplastics on clam Ruditapes philippinarum at environmentally realistic concentrations: Toxicokinetics, toxicity, and gut microbiota

Researchers exposed clams to nanoplastics at concentrations found in real marine environments and tracked how the particles accumulated in their tissues over 14 days. The nanoplastics caused physical damage and significantly altered the clams' gut bacteria. This is concerning because clams are widely consumed seafood, meaning nanoplastic contamination could affect both marine ecosystems and human food sources.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Different recovery patterns of the surviving bivalve Mytilus galloprovincialis based on transcriptome profiling exposed to spherical or fibrous polyethylene microplastics

Researchers used gene expression analysis to study how Mediterranean mussels respond to and recover from exposure to different shapes of polyethylene microplastics. They found that spherical and fibrous particles triggered distinct stress responses and different recovery patterns over a 14-day period. The study suggests that the shape of microplastics matters significantly in determining their biological impact on marine organisms.

2024 Heliyon 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Study on the toxic effect of seawater-aged microplastics on Philippine curtain clams

Researchers studied how seawater aging changes the properties of five common microplastic types and tested their toxic effects on Philippine curtain clams. Aging significantly increased the surface area of all microplastics and caused visible surface cracking in polyethylene and PVC particles. Higher microplastic concentrations accelerated clam mortality, with prolonged exposure suggesting cumulative toxic effects.

2025 Scientific Reports 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of size continuum from nanoplastics to microplastics on marine mussel Mytilus edulis: Comparison in vitro/in vivo exposure scenarios

Researchers compared the effects of nanoplastics versus microplastics on marine mussels using both in vivo and in vitro approaches, finding that smaller plastic particles caused greater cellular and physiological impacts across the size continuum.

2022 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Polyethylene microplastic toxicity to the terrestrial snail Cantareus aspersus: size matters

Researchers found that polyethylene microplastic size significantly affects toxicity in the terrestrial snail Cantareus aspersus, with smaller particles causing greater oxidative stress and cellular damage than larger ones.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics and mercury on manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum: Feeding rate, immunomodulation, histopathology and oxidative stress

Researchers exposed Manila clams to polyethylene microplastics and mercury, both individually and in combination, to study their effects on feeding, immune response, and tissue health. The study found that while microplastics were ingested and spread to various tissues, they played a negligible role in transporting mercury into the clams. Both pollutants independently reduced filtration rates, impaired immune function, and caused tissue damage in the gills and digestive glands.

2020 Environmental Pollution 148 citations
Article Tier 2

Oxidative Stress in Mussel Mytilus trossulus Induced by Different-Sized Plastics

Researchers exposed mussels to both tiny polystyrene microparticles and larger polyethylene plastic fragments and found that both sizes triggered oxidative stress in the animals. The plastic exposure caused DNA damage, weakened cellular membranes, and destabilized immune cell structures in the mussels' gills and digestive glands. The findings indicate that plastics of any size and polymer type can be harmful to marine filter-feeding organisms.

2024 Journal of Xenobiotics 4 citations