Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

An examination of the occurrence and potential risks of microplastics across various shellfish

Researchers compared microplastic contamination levels in commercial shellfish from northern (Qingdao) and southern (Xiamen) China, finding microplastics in 70-100% of samples. The study assessed potential human health risks from consuming contaminated shellfish, with microplastic abundances varying across species and geographic locations.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 154 citations
Article Tier 2

Are bivalves a source of microplastics for humans? A case study in the Brazilian markets

Researchers found that all four species of bivalves sold in Brazilian markets contained microplastics, averaging 1.64 particles per gram, confirming that commercially sold shellfish are a source of microplastic exposure for consumers.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparative analysis of microplastic pollution in commercially relevant seafood across different geographical regions

Researchers analyzed microplastic pollution in commercially important seafood species, characterizing particle morphology and polymer composition across species. The study found microplastics in all species sampled, with differences in contamination levels linked to feeding ecology and habitat.

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

Microplastics in commercial bivalves from China

Researchers analyzed microplastics in commercially sold bivalves from China, finding contamination across multiple species and geographic origins, with implications for human dietary microplastic exposure through shellfish consumption.

2015 Environmental Pollution 960 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in mussels sampled from coastal waters and supermarkets in the United Kingdom

Researchers measured microplastic contamination in mussels from U.K. coastal waters and supermarkets and found anthropogenic debris in every sample tested. Wild mussels contained up to 2.9 debris items per gram of tissue, while supermarket mussels showed lower but still consistent contamination levels. The study confirms that microplastics are prevalent in commercially available shellfish, representing a direct pathway for human dietary exposure.

2018 Environmental Pollution 516 citations
Review Tier 2

The Presence of Microplastics in Shellfish: A Review

This literature review synthesizes studies on microplastic presence in shellfish across global aquaculture and wild harvest settings, finding widespread contamination across species and highlighting ingestion during filter feeding as the dominant uptake route.

2024 Hydrogen Jurnal Kependidikan Kimia
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in global bivalve mollusks: A call for protocol standardization

Researchers reviewed 61 studies on microplastic contamination in bivalve mollusks worldwide, finding that these filter-feeding shellfish consistently contain microplastics regardless of location. The study found significant differences in contamination levels between bivalve families based on their habitats, suggesting that both water-dwelling and sediment-dwelling species can be used to monitor different types of microplastic pollution. The authors call for standardized sampling and analysis protocols to enable meaningful comparisons across future studies.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 91 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparative analysis of microplastic pollution in commercially relevant seafood across different geographical regions

This study compared microplastic contamination across commercially relevant seafood species commonly consumed in the European market, characterizing both the morphological and chemical properties of particles found in edible tissue. Results showed widespread but variable contamination across species, with polymer types and particle abundance differing by species and tissue type.

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

Towards Risk Assessments of Microplastics in Bivalve Mollusks Globally

Researchers compiled data from 22 countries to assess the risk of microplastic contamination in bivalve mollusks such as mussels and oysters. While most countries showed relatively low pollution levels, the chemical composition of the microplastics found in bivalves varied widely, with some polymers posing greater health concerns than others. The study estimates that regular consumption of contaminated bivalves could represent a meaningful pathway for human microplastic exposure.

2022 Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 84 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of microplastics in store-bought fresh and processed clams in Italy

Researchers measured microplastic occurrence in store-bought fresh and processed clam products in Italy, detecting particles in all examined products and finding higher concentrations in minimally processed compared to heavily processed clams.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the edible tissues of shellfishes sold for human consumption

Researchers analyzed the edible tissues of four shellfish species sold for human consumption and found microplastics present in all samples examined. Fibers were the most commonly detected particle type, with polymer identification confirming synthetic origins including polyethylene and polypropylene. The findings raise concerns about human dietary exposure to microplastics through commercially available seafood products.

2020 Chemosphere 204 citations
Article Tier 2

Overviewing the Ground Reality of Microplastic Effects on Seafoods, Including Fish, Shrimps and Crabs: Future Research Directions

This review compiled global data on microplastic contamination in commercially harvested marine and freshwater fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and other seafood, finding widespread ingestion across all major seafood categories. The authors assess implications for food safety and call for standardized monitoring and risk thresholds for microplastics in seafood.

2022 Foods 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Dietary exposure to microplastic via shellfish and the importance of the edible shellfish tissue measurements

This study highlighted shellfish as a major source of human dietary exposure to micro- and nanoplastics, emphasizing the need for standardized analytical methods to enable comparable exposure assessments and risk characterizations across different countries and shellfish species.

2025
Article Tier 2

Presence of Microplastics in Four Types of Shellfish Purchased at Fish Markets in Okayama City, Japan.

Scientists found microplastics in all four types of shellfish—oysters, clams, scallops, and mussels—purchased from fish markets in Okayama, Japan. The findings confirm that people who eat shellfish regularly ingest microplastics, raising questions about potential health impacts from this dietary exposure.

2021 PubMed 3 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

A systematic review on microplastic contamination in marine Crustacea and Mollusca of Asia: Current scenario, concentration, characterization, polymeric risk assessment, and future Prospectives

This systematic review documented microplastic contamination in shellfish and crustaceans across Asia, finding 79 species affected. Since these seafood species are widely consumed, the presence of microplastics — especially polyethylene and polypropylene — in their tissues represents a direct route of human exposure through diet.

2024 Water Environment Research 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment and Analysis of Microplastics in Commercially Sold Bivalves from Los Baños, Laguna, and Lipa, Batangas, Philippines

Researchers extracted and characterized microplastics from three commercially sold bivalve species (green mussel, Manila clam, and freshwater clam) purchased at Philippine markets, finding contamination ranging from 0.52 to 2.94 microplastic particles per gram fresh weight with fibers being the most common type.

2025 UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Contamination in Commercial Green Mussels from Selected Wet Markets in Thailand

Researchers quantified microplastic contamination in commercially sold green mussels from Thai wet markets, providing the first assessment of MP levels in market-sold mussel species in Thailand and estimating potential human dietary exposure.

2021 Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatio-temporal contamination of microplastics in shellfish farming regions: A case study

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in a major French shellfish farming region over one year, finding that mussels and oysters contained confirmed microplastics with polyethylene and polypropylene as dominant polymer types, varying by site and season.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence, sources and potential human health risk of microplastics in seafood species

Researchers measured microplastic occurrence in seafood products available in local markets, identifying plastics in multiple species including fish, shrimp, and bivalves, and estimated potential human dietary intake based on consumption data. The study found that seafood lovers could ingest thousands of microplastic particles per year through regular consumption, with shellfish representing the highest per-serving exposure.

2024 Chinese Science Bulletin (Chinese Version)
Systematic Review Tier 1

A global perspective on microplastic bioaccumulation in marine organisms

This systematic review examines microplastic contamination in marine organisms around the world, documenting how plastics of various sizes and types build up in seafood species. Since many of these species end up on our plates, the findings raise important questions about how much microplastic humans may be consuming through seafood.

2023 Ecological Indicators 107 citations
Review Tier 2

Relevance and reliability of evidence for microplastic contamination in seafood: A critical review using Australian consumption patterns as a case study

Researchers critically reviewed evidence on microplastic contamination in seafood, using Australian consumption patterns as a case study to assess human exposure risk. They found that while microplastics have been documented in many commercial marine species, most contamination is found in tissues that are not typically consumed by humans. The study concludes that current evidence does not support significant dietary microplastic exposure from seafood but calls for better standardized research methods.

2021 Environmental Pollution 65 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Concentration of microplastics in bivalves of the environment: a systematic review

Microplastics were found in bivalves across 70 species in 36 countries, with mussels (Mytilus spp.) and oysters (Crassostrea spp.) most studied, but inconsistent digestion and identification methodologies make meaningful cross-study comparisons of contamination levels difficult.

2021 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 87 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and Characterization of Microplastics in Commercial Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from Apulia Region (Italy)

Scientists analyzed commercially sold mussels from markets in southern Italy and found microplastics in every sample tested. On average, each mussel contained about 1.6 plastic particles, with fibers being the most common type, followed by fragments. Since mussels are eaten whole by consumers, the findings highlight a direct pathway for human exposure to microplastics through seafood.

2023 Foods 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics of microplastics pollution in important commercial coastal seafood of Central Java, Indonesia

Researchers measured microplastic contamination in three commercially important seafoods from coastal Indonesia — milkfish, blood cockles, and green mussels — finding that all three contained plastic particles, with green mussels carrying the highest load at an average of 71 particles per individual. The variety of polymer types detected, including rubber and styrene compounds, confirms that microplastics are entering the human food chain through commonly consumed seafood.

2024 Environmental Advances 7 citations