Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

The observation of starch digestion in blue mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed to microplastic particles under varied food conditions

Researchers exposed blue mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) to microplastics under varying food availability conditions and monitored digestive performance, finding that microplastic ingestion disrupted starch digestion efficiency and that the effect was more pronounced when food was scarce.

2021 PLoS ONE 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics alter digestive enzyme activities in the marine bivalve, Mytilus galloprovincialis

Researchers incubated Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) with polystyrene and polyethylene microplastics and measured changes in digestive enzyme activity, finding significant reductions in amylase and protease activity, suggesting that microplastics impair nutrient digestion in filter-feeding bivalves.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 125 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of food presence on microplastic ingestion and egestion in Mytilus galloprovincialis

The presence of the microalga Dunaliella salina as food significantly reduced egestion of polyethylene microplastics in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, with a single feeding episode preventing over 40% of MPs from being expelled over 24 hours. The finding suggests food presence causes microplastics to persist longer in mussel tissues, increasing exposure duration.

2019 Chemosphere 97 citations
Article Tier 2

Correction: Effects of microplastic exposure on the body condition and behaviour of planktivorous reef fish (Acanthochromis polyacanthus)

This is a published correction to a previous study that examined how microplastic exposure affects the body condition and behavior of a planktivorous reef fish species. The correction addresses errors in the original article's data or methodology. The original research investigated whether ingesting microplastics changes how reef fish feed, grow, and behave in their natural environment.

2024 PLoS ONE 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Histopathological and cytochemical analysis of ingested polyethylenepowder in the digestive gland of the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis (L.)

Researchers examined the damage caused by ingested polyethylene powder in the digestive glands of blue mussels using microscopy and chemical staining, providing histological evidence of cellular effects. The study demonstrated that physical ingestion of plastic particles causes measurable tissue-level harm in the digestive organs of these widely consumed shellfish.

2010 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Development and optimization of a standard method for extraction of microplastics in mussels by enzyme digestion of soft tissues

Researchers optimized methods for digesting mussel soft tissue and extracting microplastics for analysis, finding that sodium hydroxide and enzymatic digestion both achieved high recoveries (~93%) while acid digestion damaged certain plastic types. The validated method provides a reliable protocol for monitoring microplastic contamination in commercially important bivalves.

2016 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 317 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in wild mussels (Mytilus spp.) from the north coast of Spain

Mussels from two regions of northern Spain's coastline contained microplastics, with potassium hydroxide digestion recovering significantly more particles than nitric acid digestion. The choice of digestion method substantially affects the number of microplastics detected in seafood, making methodological standardization critical for food safety assessments.

2019 Scientia Marina 63 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantification and characterization of microplastics in blue mussels (Mytilus edulis): protocol setup and preliminary data on the contamination of the French Atlantic coast

Researchers quantified and characterized microplastics in blue mussels from a study site, finding microplastics in a large proportion of sampled individuals and documenting the types and sizes of particles present.

2017 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 163 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification of microplastics in mollusks using an optical microscope

Researchers developed and tested optical microscope-based methods for identifying microplastics in mollusks following tissue digestion. The study evaluated factors affecting tissue decomposition and found that careful protocol design was essential for reliable MP detection in shellfish commonly consumed by humans.

2025 Vietnam Journal of Chemistry
Article Tier 2

An assessment of the ability to ingest and excrete microplastics by filter-feeders: A case study with the Mediterranean mussel

Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) were exposed to spherical polystyrene microplastics of different sizes and concentrations and examined for tissue-level effects and ingestion/egestion dynamics, with smaller particles showing greater retention and histological changes in digestive tissue. The study provides detailed pathophysiological evidence that MP size governs both retention time and the severity of tissue-level effects in marine filter feeders.

2018 Environmental Pollution 157 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

Impacts of microplastics exposure on mussel (Mytilus edulis) gut microbiota

Researchers exposed marine mussels (Mytilus edulis) to microplastics and analyzed changes to their gut microbiota, finding significant shifts in microbial community composition that could affect digestion, immunity, and overall health.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 111 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in seafood: Relative input of Mytilus galloprovincialis and table salt in mussel dishes

Researchers quantified microplastics in mussels and table salt used in popular dishes from the Bay of Biscay, Spain. They found that mussels contained significantly more microplastics (0.55-3.20 items per gram) than table salt (0.1-0.38 items per gram), with levels correlating to environmental pollution at the harvesting site. The study suggests that consumers' risk of microplastic ingestion through seafood depends heavily on where the shellfish were collected, and recommends routine microplastic monitoring and labeling for seafood.

2022 Food Research International 62 citations
Article Tier 2

Correction: Ricciardi et al. Microplastics in the Aquatic Environment: Occurrence, Persistence, Analysis, and Human Exposure. Water 2021, 13, 973

This is a published correction notice for a previously published review article on microplastics in aquatic environments.

2023 Water 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of cooking methods on microplastics in dried shellfish

Researchers examined how different cooking methods affect microplastic levels in dried shellfish, finding that certain preparation techniques altered the abundance and characteristics of microplastics present, with implications for human dietary exposure.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Physiological effects of plastic particles on mussels are mediated by food presence

Thick shell mussels exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics (70 nm) and microplastics (10 µm) with and without microalgae food found that food presence mediated the physiological effects — microplastics reduced energy budget and increased oxidative stress markers most strongly when food was mixed with particles.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 95 citations
Article Tier 2

Extraction and identification of microplastics from mussels: Method development and preliminary results

Scientists developed and validated a method for extracting and identifying microplastics from mussel tissue, then applied it to measure contamination in commercially harvested mussels. The method produced reliable, reproducible results, providing a practical tool for monitoring microplastic levels in one of the world's most widely consumed shellfish.

2021 Italian Journal of Food Safety 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and food shortage impair the byssal attachment of thick-shelled mussel Mytilus coruscus

Researchers found that microplastic exposure combined with food shortage significantly impaired byssal attachment in the mussel Mytilus coruscus, reducing thread production and adhesion strength, which could compromise mussel survival in polluted marine environments.

2021 Marine Environmental Research 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of microplastic particles ingested by Mytilus galloprovincialis along the Adriatic coast

Researchers sampled 176 Mytilus galloprovincialis mussels from six stations across the Adriatic Sea as part of the INTERREG IT-HR MARLESS project, digesting tissue with acid and extracting microplastics via saturated sodium chloride filtration. Microplastics were detected at all sampled locations, with shape, size, and color characterization revealing widespread contamination across the study region.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Particle characteristics of microplastics contaminating the mussel Mytilus edulis and their surrounding environments

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.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 129 citations