Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Physiological and cellular responses of Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum exposed to different shapes and sizes of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics

This study exposed Manila clams to PET microplastics of different shapes (fragments and fibers) and sizes for 28 days, finding that fibrous microplastics caused greater oxidative stress and lysosomal membrane destabilization than fragments and that smaller particles produced stronger physiological responses.

2025 Ecotoxicology
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

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

The combined effects of polyethylene microplastics and benzoanthracene on Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum

Researchers studied the combined effects of polyethylene microplastics and a toxic organic pollutant (benzo[a]anthracene) on Manila clams. The study found that when the pollutant was present alongside microplastics, the clams showed more severe stress responses than from either contaminant alone. Evidence indicates that microplastics can act as carriers for harmful chemicals, potentially amplifying their toxic effects on marine shellfish.

2023 Chemosphere 17 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

Ocean acidification enhances microplastic uptake and alters physiological responses in Manila clams

Researchers found that ocean acidification (pH 7.6) impaired particle selection in Manila clams, leading to greater microplastic retention in the digestive tract, while filtration and respiration rates were maintained at higher levels under acidified conditions, suggesting suppressed stress responses and a synergistic interaction between ocean acidification and microplastic pollution.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin
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

Habitual feeding patterns impact polystyrene microplastic abundance and potential toxicity in edible benthic mollusks

This study examined how different feeding strategies in edible mollusks affect how many microplastics they accumulate and how toxic the effects are. Researchers found that deposit-feeding snails and filter-feeding clams accumulated microplastics differently, with distinct impacts on digestive enzymes, oxidative stress, and neurotoxicity markers. The findings suggest that a shellfish species' feeding behavior directly influences the microplastic contamination risk for both the animal and human consumers.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Ingestion by Wild and Cultured Manila Clams (Venerupis philippinarum) from Baynes Sound, British Columbia

Researchers documented microplastic quantities in wild and cultured Manila clams from Baynes Sound, British Columbia. The study found that both farmed and wild clams contained microplastics, raising concerns about the transfer of these contaminants through the food web to higher trophic levels, including humans who consume shellfish.

2016 Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 306 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

Bioturbation effects and behavioral changes in buried bivalves after exposure to microplastics

Researchers studied how Manila clams interact with microplastics in marine sediments and found that clam burrowing, movement, and feeding behaviors rapidly transported microplastics to depths of 6 to 8 centimeters below the surface. While the clams showed a slightly longer adjustment period when microplastics were present, their overall health and behavior were not significantly affected. The study reveals that burrowing shellfish play an important role in redistributing microplastics deeper into ocean sediments.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic in Sediments and Ingestion Rates in Three Edible Bivalve Mollusc Species in a Southern Philippine Estuary

Researchers found 2,258 microplastic particles in sediments of Panguil Bay in the southern Philippines and documented active ingestion of microplastics by three species of edible tropical bivalve molluscs, with fibers and dark-colored particles the most abundant types.

2022 Water Air & Soil Pollution 25 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

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

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

Microplastic Feeding and Vital Function of Bivalves Mercenaria Mercenaria in Coastal Zone of Tokyo Bay

Researchers investigated microplastic abundance in coastal sediments of Tokyo Bay and examined the relationship between microplastic ingestion and the physiology of the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria at Yatsu Tidal Flat. Feeding experiments found that clams expelled microplastics in pseudofeces rather than retaining them in tissue, but microplastic exposure increased filtration volume, suggesting effects on vital physiological functions.

2024 Japanese Journal of JSCE
Article Tier 2

Direct and indirect effects of microplastics on bivalves, with a focus on edible species: A mini-review

This mini-review examined direct and indirect pathways by which microplastics affect bivalves including mussels, oysters, and clams, finding evidence that microplastics impair physiology, alter immune responses, and act as vectors for chemical pollutants. The authors highlight microplastics as an emerging threat to bivalve populations and seafood safety.

2019 Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology 138 citations
Article Tier 2

LEVELS OF MICROPLASTICS IN MUSSELS (Perna viridis) AND MANILA CLAM (Venerupis philippinarum) IN BACOOR CITY, CAVITE AND CALATAGAN, BATANGAS, PHILIPPINES

Researchers in the Philippines found microplastics in both mussels and Manila clams from two coastal locations, with mussels from the more urbanised Bacoor City site containing the highest amounts. Because these shellfish are consumed frequently — sometimes daily — by local communities, the findings point to a regular dietary route of microplastic exposure for the population.

2023 SDSSU MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH JOURNAL
Article Tier 2

Comparisons between ingestion, rejection, and egestion of microbeads by burrowing clams, Meretrix meretrix and Paphia undulata: Implications for health risk of shellfish consumption.

Researchers compared microplastic ingestion, pseudofaeces rejection, and egestion in two burrowing clam species and found that the clams ingested more microbeads than they rejected. Larger microbeads were more likely to be rejected before ingestion, while smaller ones were more readily taken up, with implications for predicting plastic accumulation in bivalve-based foods.

2024 Marine pollution bulletin
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