Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Use of the Zebra Mussel Dreissena polymorpha (Mollusca, Bivalvia) as a Bioindicator of Microplastics Pollution in Freshwater Ecosystems: A Case Study from Lake Iseo (North Italy)

Invasive zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) from Lake Iseo in northern Italy accumulated microplastics in their tissues, supporting their use as sentinel bioindicators for freshwater microplastic monitoring and demonstrating their value for spatial pollution assessment.

2021 Water 64 citations
Article Tier 2

The Use of Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) as a Sentinel Species for the Microplastic Pollution of Freshwater: The Case of Beyhan Dam Lake, Turkey

This study detected microplastics in zebra mussels from Beyhan Dam Lake in Turkey, finding an average of several particles per individual with fibers predominating, providing the first evidence of microplastic pollution in this freshwater bivalve species from Turkish inland waters.

2023 Sustainability 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Tracking the microplastic pollution in the freshwater environments of southeastern Türkiye: Usage of Unio delicatus, Unio Terminalis and Dreissena polymorpha as bioindicators of microplastics

This study examined microplastic contamination in three freshwater mussel species collected from rivers and a dam lake in southeastern Turkey, finding relatively low average concentrations (under 1 microplastic per individual) but confirming that these mussels do accumulate plastic particles from their surroundings. Because mussels are filter feeders with a fixed lifestyle, they reflect local pollution levels well, making them useful sentinels for tracking microplastic contamination in freshwater ecosystems. The research adds to growing evidence that microplastics are now present even in inland freshwater species far from the ocean.

2025 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

ASSESSMENT OF THE BIOACCUMULATION OF MICROPLASTICS IN THE BLACK SEA MUSSEL Mytilus galloprovincialis L., 1819

Researchers examined microplastic accumulation in the Black Sea mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis collected from multiple sites along the Bulgarian coast. Microplastics were detected in all samples with fragment and fiber morphologies dominant, and differences in abundance were observed between sampling locations linked to proximity to human activities.

2022 Journal of IMAB - Annual Proceeding (Scientific Papers) 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Invasive Freshwater Mussels (Dreissena sp.): Spatiotemporal Variation and Occurrence With Chemical Contaminants

Researchers measured microplastic ingestion by invasive zebra and quagga mussels (Dreissena spp.) across Great Lakes sites and time points, finding widespread MP uptake that varied by season and location and noting a weak but positive association between microplastic and chemical contaminant co-occurrence.

2021 Frontiers in Marine Science 37 citations
Article Tier 2

High microplastic exposure affects survival and health of Dreissena spp. mussels: implications for freshwater pollution monitoring

Researchers tested whether Dreissena mussels could serve as bioindicators for freshwater microplastic pollution by exposing them to polyethylene microbeads for two months. At high concentrations, the mussels showed decreased health indicators and increased mortality within 15 days, while lower concentrations had no significant effect. The study supports using these filter-feeding mussels as practical biological monitors for assessing microplastic contamination levels in freshwater ecosystems.

2025 Environmental Pollution 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Uptake and Retention of Nanoplastics in Quagga Mussels

Experiments tested whether the invasive freshwater mussel Dreissena bugensis (quagga mussel) takes up and retains nanoplastics, finding that the mussels ingested and retained nano-sized plastic particles in their tissues after exposure. Quagga mussels, already widely distributed in North American and European waterways, could serve as both sentinels for nanoplastic monitoring and vectors for nanoplastic entry into food webs.

2019 Global Challenges 69 citations
Article Tier 2

The Mediterranean Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis as a Biomonitor for Microplastic Pollution

Researchers assessed the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis as a bioindicator for microplastic pollution, focusing on improving quantification of small microplastics below 25 µm that conventional methods miss. Mussels were found to accumulate microplastics efficiently across size ranges, validating their use as biomonitors while highlighting the need for improved analytical methods.

2025
Article Tier 2

First Record of Microplastic Contamination in the Non-Native Dark False Mussel Mytilopsis leucophaeata (Bivalvia: Dreissenidae) in a Coastal Urban Lagoon

Researchers documented microplastic contamination for the first time in the invasive dark false mussel in a coastal lagoon in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Microplastics were found in all mussel samples, with fibers and fragments being the most common types, and thirteen different polymer types were identified. The study suggests this widespread filter-feeding species could serve as a useful bioindicator for monitoring microplastic pollution in coastal waters.

2023 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution of environmental microplastics in different tissues of indigenous freshwater bivalves (Unio spp.): a case study from the Sejenane River in Northern Tunisia

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in three species of freshwater mussels from a river in Northern Tunisia, analyzing particles in gill and digestive gland tissues. They found microplastics present in all species, suggesting these filter-feeding bivalves accumulate particles from their environment. The study demonstrates that freshwater mussels can serve as effective biological indicators for monitoring microplastic pollution in river ecosystems.

2025 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics, Additives, and Plasticizers in Freshwater Bivalves: Preliminary Research of Biomonitoring

Researchers placed freshwater mussels in three rivers in central Italy to study how they accumulate microplastics, plasticizers, and additives over time. They found small microplastics and chemical additives in both the gills and digestive tracts of the mussels, with polyamide being the most common polymer detected. The study demonstrates that freshwater bivalves can serve as effective biological monitors for tracking microplastic pollution in rivers.

2023 Water 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Using the Asian clam as an indicator of microplastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems

Researchers proposed the Asian clam as a bioindicator species for monitoring microplastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems, building on prior findings of high contamination rates in these organisms. Using a widely distributed filter feeder as a sentinel species could help standardize freshwater microplastic monitoring the way mussels are used in marine settings.

2017 Environmental Pollution 445 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic intake of Unio mancus Lamarck 1819 collected from Ataturk Dam Lake, Türkiye

Researchers examined microplastic intake in the freshwater bivalve Unio mancus collected from Ataturk Dam Lake in Turkey, characterizing the size, shape, and polymer composition of microplastic particles and fibers ingested by the mussels. The study documented microplastic contamination in this dam lake population, contributing to understanding of freshwater bivalve exposure to plastic pollution in Turkish inland water systems.

2023 TURKISH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of uptake and chronic toxicity of virgin polystyrene microbeads in freshwater zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha (Mollusca: Bivalvia)

Researchers evaluated the uptake and chronic toxicity of virgin polystyrene microbeads in freshwater zebra mussels over an extended exposure period. The study found that mussels ingested and accumulated the particles, and higher concentrations induced measurable changes in cellular biomarkers and filtration behavior, suggesting that chronic microplastic exposure can affect the physiology of freshwater bivalves.

2018 The Science of The Total Environment 281 citations
Article Tier 2

The first evidence of microplastic uptake in natural freshwater mussel,Unio stevenianusfrom Karasu River, Turkey

This brief report documents the presence of microplastics in a freshwater mussel species (Unio stevenianus) from the Karasu River in Turkey, providing first evidence of microplastic uptake in this native freshwater species. High microplastic concentrations in the mussel habitat indicate that the river is significantly polluted with plastic debris.

2021 Biomarkers 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Using mussel as a global bioindicator of coastal microplastic pollution

This review evaluates whether mussels can serve as reliable global indicators of coastal microplastic pollution. Researchers found that mussels are well suited for this role due to their wide geographic distribution, filter-feeding behavior, and demonstrated ability to accumulate microplastics from surrounding waters. The study identifies remaining challenges in standardizing monitoring methods but concludes that mussels offer a practical and ecologically relevant tool for tracking marine microplastic contamination.

2018 Environmental Pollution 571 citations
Article Tier 2

Efficacy of freshwater pearl mussel (Lamellidens marginalis) as a biomonitoring tool for assessing microplastic pollution

Laboratory experiments showed that freshwater pearl mussels readily ingested microplastic particles, which then accumulated in their organs and tissues and caused measurable histological damage. This is relevant because freshwater mussels are widely used as biomonitors of water quality, and the findings confirm they can serve as indicators of microplastic pollution while also showing that this pollution harms them.

2023 Archives of Agriculture and Environmental Science
Article Tier 2

Bivalves with potential for monitoring microplastics in South America

Researchers tested three South American mussel species and found that all of them accumulated microplastics in their tissues, feces, and pseudofeces, suggesting these bivalves can serve as reliable bioindicators — living monitors — for microplastic contamination in coastal waterways.

2021 Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering 29 citations
Article Tier 2

The role of invasive alien species as bioindicators for environmental pollution

This review explores an unconventional approach to pollution monitoring: using invasive alien species as biological indicators of environmental contamination, including microplastics. Researchers found that species like invasive bivalves, crustaceans, and fish accumulate contaminants in measurable ways and are already abundant in degraded habitats. The approach offers a practical monitoring tool that avoids additional stress on native or protected species.

2025 Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health 4 citations
Review Tier 2

Influence of microplastics on freshwater bivalves (review)

This review synthesized knowledge on how microplastics affect freshwater bivalves, covering ingestion, tissue accumulation, physiological stress responses, and reproductive impacts. Bivalves are shown to be sensitive bioindicators of microplastic contamination in rivers and lakes.

2024 Биология внутренних вод 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Unveiling microplastic pollution: Evaluating the role of Sinotaia quadrata (Caenogastropoda, Viviparidae) as a monitoring tool in freshwater ecosystems

Researchers evaluated whether the invasive freshwater snail Sinotaia quadrata could serve as a reliable monitoring tool for tracking microplastic pollution in waterways affected by human activity. The types and characteristics of microplastics found in the snails closely matched what was detected in the surrounding water and sediment. The study suggests that these snails could be a practical and cost-effective way to assess microplastic contamination levels in freshwater ecosystems.

2025 Environmental Research 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Biochemical basis of resistance to multiple contaminations in the native and invasive populations of Dreissena polymorpha

This study compared native and invasive populations of the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha in their biochemical tolerance to multiple simultaneous stressors including microplastics, examining how antioxidant and detoxification mechanisms differ between populations.

2023 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Mussel: a potential pollution indicator in the aquatic ecosystem and effect of climate change

This review examines the biology and ecology of mussels as environmental indicator organisms, covering how they respond to pollution, temperature, and other stressors including microplastics. Mussels are widely used as bioindicators of marine pollution because they filter large volumes of water and accumulate contaminants including microplastic particles in their tissues.

2020 International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Bioaccumulation of emerging contaminants in mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis): Influence of microplastics

Researchers investigated whether microplastics influence the bioaccumulation of emerging contaminants in Mediterranean mussels. The study found that the presence of microplastics altered how certain chemical pollutants accumulated in mussel tissue, suggesting that microplastics can act as carriers that change the uptake and distribution of other contaminants in marine organisms.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 76 citations