Papers

61,005 results
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Systematic Review Tier 1

Microplastics ingestions by wild and aquaculture marine bivalves: A systematic review on field investigation study

This systematic review of 33 studies found that shellfish like mussels, oysters, and clams from both wild and farmed sources contain microplastics. Since many people eat these shellfish whole, including their digestive systems, this represents a direct pathway for microplastic ingestion by humans.

2023 Sustinere Journal of Environment and Sustainability 6 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

A systematic review on the prevalence and concentration of MPs in mussels

This systematic review examines how common microplastics are in mussels, a popular seafood. Since mussels filter large volumes of water, they tend to accumulate microplastics, which means people who eat them may be exposed to these particles through their diet.

2025 Open Science Framework
Article Tier 2

Unveiling the hidden impacts: A comprehensive review of microplastic effects on marine bivalves

This review synthesizes research on how microplastics accumulate in marine bivalves through their filter-feeding behavior, covering mechanisms of ingestion, bioaccumulation, oxidative stress induction, immune disruption, and growth inhibition, with implications for food safety given widespread human consumption of bivalves.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology
Review Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution in Green Shells in Aquatic Ecosystems: A Literature Review of Determinant Factors and Management

This literature review synthesized 35 studies on microplastic contamination in green mussels (a widely consumed shellfish), finding that fibers under 1 mm were the most common form and that both human and industrial activities drive contamination levels. Because mussels filter large volumes of water, they concentrate microplastics from their surroundings and pass them on to people who eat them, making shellfish a key pathway for human dietary exposure.

2023 JURNAL KESEHATAN LINGKUNGAN 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Are microplastics impacting shellfish?

Researchers investigated whether microplastic contamination measurably impacts shellfish physiology, growth, reproduction, and health outcomes, assessing the ecological and food safety implications of microplastic exposure in commercially and ecologically important bivalve species.

2024
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Fish and Seafood Species

This chapter reviews microplastic contamination in fish and seafood species, including how plastics enter seafood through wild capture and aquaculture pathways. Because seafood is widely consumed globally, microplastics in fish and shellfish represent a direct route of human dietary exposure.

2022 5 citations
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

Microplastics contamination in molluscs from the northern part of the Persian Gulf

Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in five species of mollusks from the northern Persian Gulf, including both gastropods and bivalves with different feeding strategies. They found microplastics in all species, with concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 21 particles per gram of soft tissue, and fibers were the most common type. The study indicates that microplastic contamination is widespread in Persian Gulf seafood and that filter-feeding organisms tend to accumulate more particles.

2017 Environmental Pollution 356 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Microplastics and seafood: lower trophic organisms at highest risk of contamination

This systematic review summarizes existing research on microplastic contamination in commercially important seafood species. The findings show that organisms lower on the food chain, like shellfish and small fish, tend to accumulate the most microplastics. Since many people eat these organisms whole, including their digestive tracts, this represents a direct pathway for microplastics to enter the human diet.

2019 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 564 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Mollusks: Research Progress, Current Contamination Status, Analysis Approaches, and Future Perspectives

This review synthesizes 77 studies (2010-2021) on microplastic contamination in mollusks, finding that polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyethylene are the most common polymers in bivalves, with most particles under 500 µm in size and a positive correlation between seawater and mollusk MP abundance.

2021 Frontiers in Marine Science 38 citations
Article Tier 2

The Global Spread of Microplastics: Contamination in Mussels, Clams, and Crustaceans from World Markets

Researchers used a standardized method to analyze microplastic contamination in commercially sold clams, mussels, and crustacean shellfish from markets in Belgium, Croatia, Serbia, and South Korea. Microplastics were found in about 44% of the 190 samples, with less than one particle per individual on average, and crustacean shellfish had the lowest contamination per gram of edible tissue. The type of shellfish was a stronger predictor of contamination levels than geographic origin, and the data did not support bioaccumulation with animal size.

2024 Foods 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Fish and Shellfish – A Threat to Seafood Safety?

This review evaluated the current knowledge on microplastic contamination in fish and shellfish in relation to seafood safety. Researchers found that while microplastics are commonly detected in the gastrointestinal tracts of fish (which are typically not consumed), bivalves and small fish eaten whole may present a more direct route of human exposure, though the overall health risk from microplastics in seafood remains uncertain.

2020 Journal of Aquatic Food Product Technology 131 citations
Review Tier 2

Microplastic Contamination and Exposure in Gastropods: A Literature Review

This literature review examined microplastic contamination in gastropod species across marine environments, assessing ingestion rates, particle types, and potential consequences for organism health and human seafood safety. The review found that gastropods consistently harbor microplastics, particularly fibers, and that bottom-dwelling species are among the most exposed due to sediment contact.

2025 Journal of Epidemiology and Health Science
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in commercially important edible marine bivalves: A comprehensive review

This review summarizes research on microplastic contamination in edible shellfish like mussels, clams, and oysters, which accumulate high levels of plastic particles in their tissues. Because bivalves are eaten whole including their digestive systems, they are a direct pathway for microplastics to enter the human body. While microplastics do not appear to kill shellfish outright, they can harm their immune systems and reproduction, potentially affecting both shellfish populations and human consumers.

2024 Food Chemistry X 26 citations
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
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

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

Microplastics and their potential effects on the aquaculture systems: a critical review

This review examines the sources, distribution, and potential ecological effects of microplastics in aquaculture systems worldwide. Researchers found that microplastics enter aquaculture through feed, water intake, and atmospheric deposition, and can accumulate in farmed fish and shellfish tissues. The study highlights the need for monitoring programs and mitigation strategies to protect both aquaculture productivity and consumer safety from microplastic contamination.

2020 Reviews in Aquaculture 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

Microplastics in bivalves cultured for human consumption

Researchers examined two commercially farmed bivalve species, mussels and oysters, and found microplastics in the edible tissues of both. Mussels contained an average of 0.36 particles per gram of tissue, while oysters had 0.47 particles per gram. Since these shellfish are consumed whole without removing the gut, the study suggests they represent a direct pathway for human ingestion of microplastics.

2014 Environmental Pollution 1992 citations
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
Article Tier 2

Microplastics as contaminants in commercially important seafood species

This review summarizes evidence that microplastic ingestion is widespread in commercially important seafood species including mollusks, crustaceans, and fish. Evidence indicates that microplastics can affect physiology, reproductive success, and survival in marine organisms, and may also act as vectors for chemical pollutants. The study highlights the potential for human exposure to microplastics through seafood consumption, though the full health implications remain to be determined.

2017 Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management 266 citations
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