Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastics in wild clams harvested from coastal waters of Lamongan, Indonesia

Researchers measured microplastic contamination in wild clams harvested from coastal waters off Lamongan, Indonesia, finding MPs in all sampled individuals with polyethylene and polypropylene as the dominant polymers. The findings raise concerns for both clam population health and the safety of shellfish consumed locally.

2022 Journal of Engineering and Technological Sciences 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Potential risks of accumulated microplastics in shells and soft tissues of cultured hard clams (Meretrix taiwanica) and associated metals

Researchers found microplastics in both the shells and soft tissues of farmed hard clams in Taiwan, with small fibers being the most common type. The soft tissues showed higher potential ecological risk from microplastics than the shells, and the health risk from eating contaminated clams was greater for children than adults. While metal levels in the clams were within safe limits, the study highlights shellfish as another source of human microplastic exposure.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Contamination from Ready-to-Cook Clams: Implications for Food Safety and Human Exposure

Researchers characterized microplastic contamination in ready-to-cook frozen clams from commercial sources, assessing particle morphology, chemical identity, and polymer hazard index, and estimated average daily intake for consumers to evaluate food safety implications of microplastic contamination in bivalve seafood.

2025 Foods
Article Tier 2

Comparative study on the microplastics abundance, characteristics, and possible sources in yellow clams of different demographic regions of the northwest coast of India

Researchers measured microplastics in yellow clams collected from urban and rural coastal sites along northwest India, finding some of the highest contamination levels ever recorded globally — averaging 91 microplastic particles per individual clam. Clams from heavily populated areas showed worse health scores, suggesting microplastic exposure may be directly harming shellfish that people eat.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters 56 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics and potential human health risks of microplastics identified in typical clams from South Yellow Sea Mudflat

Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in wild and farmed clams from the South Yellow Sea Mudflat in China and assessed potential human health risks from consuming them. They found microplastics in all clam samples, with wild clams containing higher levels than farmed clams, and fragment and fiber shapes being most common. The study estimates that adults consuming these clams could ingest hundreds of microplastic particles per kilogram of body weight annually, raising concerns about dietary exposure.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics contamination in bivalves from the Daya Bay: Species variability and spatio-temporal distribution and human health risks

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in six species of bivalves from Daya Bay, China, finding microplastics present in 87 to 93% of individuals sampled. Sediment-dwelling bivalves had higher microplastic levels than water-dwelling species, and the types of microplastics found in the shellfish matched those in the surrounding seawater and sediment. A risk assessment based on polymer hazard levels indicated that microplastic contamination in these bivalves may pose health risks to humans who consume them as seafood.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 82 citations
Article Tier 2

The occurrence and exposure of microplastics in bivalves from Qingdao, China

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in bivalves such as clams and mussels from the coast of Qingdao, China, and assessed human dietary exposure from eating them. They found an average of about one microplastic particle per individual shellfish, with fibers and rayon being the most common types. The study suggests that regular bivalve consumption in the region contributes to ongoing human microplastic exposure.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of Microplastics Contamination in Commericial Clams in the Coastal Zone of Vietnam

Microplastic contamination was assessed in commercially harvested clams from aquaculture farms in coastal Vietnam, a country where microplastic impacts on aquaculture are poorly understood. Both vertebrates and invertebrates in coastal areas were found to ingest microplastics, raising concerns about food safety in Vietnamese seafood.

2021 Applied Ecology and Environmental Research 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics and hazard risk of microplastics in Sinonovacula constricta: from farming to market

A study of razor clams (Sinonovacula constricta) sold in Chinese markets found microplastics in every sample, with farm-raised clams carrying about four times more particles than market samples — most concentrated in the viscera rather than the muscle tissue people eat. The dominant plastic type was polypropylene, and despite lower overall counts, market clams showed a higher hazard risk index due to elevated levels of polyvinyl chloride, underscoring that cleaning and handling practices only partially reduce consumer exposure.

2023 Frontiers in Marine Science 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in commercial bivalves from coastal areas of Thailand and health risk associated with microplastics in ingested bivalves

Researchers measured microplastic contamination in four species of commercial shellfish from Thailand's coastline and assessed the health risk to consumers. Microplastics were found in 69-93% of the shellfish sampled, with fibers being the most common type. Based on local consumption patterns, the study estimated that regular shellfish eaters in Thailand could be ingesting significant amounts of microplastics, though the health risk was deemed low to moderate at current levels.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Risk assessments of microplastic exposure in bivalves living in the coral reefs of Vietnam

Scientists measured microplastic contamination in shellfish living in coral reefs off the coast of Vietnam, finding an average of about 5.6 microplastic particles per individual. Polyethylene and polyamide fragments smaller than 100 micrometers were the most common types found. Since bivalves are filter feeders that people eat whole, these findings mean that consuming shellfish from these reefs involves direct ingestion of microplastics.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Exposure by Razor Clam Recreational Harvester-Consumers Along a Sparsely Populated Coastline

Researchers quantified microplastic burdens in Pacific razor clams collected from eight harvest sites along the Olympic Coast, Washington, and combined this with questionnaire data from 107 recreational harvesters to estimate annual microplastic ingestion from clam consumption. The study provided baseline contamination data for a culturally and economically important shellfish species and estimated the dietary microplastic exposure of coastal harvester-consumers.

2020 Frontiers in Marine Science 23 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

Determination of microplastics in commercial bivalves and estimation of exposure among population in Pasir Penambang, Kuala Selangor

Researchers measured microplastic abundance and characteristics in commercial bivalves from Pasir Penambang, Malaysia, and estimated human dietary exposure, finding that regular consumption of locally sold shellfish poses a notable microplastic ingestion risk.

2023 UiTM Institutional Repositories (Universiti Teknologi MARA)
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

Microplastic contamination in Bivalves: An assessment of potential health risks to humans and bivalves in the Tam Giang Lagoon

Researchers analysed microplastic contamination in three bivalve species from Tam Giang Lagoon in Vietnam, finding 291 MP particles across 36 specimens, with clams showing the highest burden (67% of total MPs). The findings indicate significant human dietary MP exposure from lagoon bivalves and call for monitoring of this food source.

2025
Article Tier 2

Methodology for microplastics quantification in clams

Researchers developed a simplified methodology for extracting and quantifying microplastics from clam tissue, addressing the need for standardized protocols to assess microplastic accumulation in seafood that poses direct human exposure risk when consumed whole.

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

Microplastic abundance and characteristics in bivalves from Tam Giang-Cau Hai and O Loan Lagoons, coastal regions in Central Vietnam: Implication on human health

Researchers found microplastics in four types of commonly eaten shellfish from coastal lagoons in Central Vietnam, with an average of 0.3 to 0.9 particles per gram of tissue. Fibers were the most common shape, and the estimated weekly human intake from eating these shellfish ranged from about 56 to 486 particles. The study highlights that regular seafood consumption in coastal communities provides a direct route for microplastic exposure in the human diet.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 6 citations
Article Tier 2

A study of the occurrence and potential risks of microplastics in fish and shellfish of Hong Kong

Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in nine commercial fish and shellfish species from Hong Kong and found plastic particles in both organ and flesh samples. Mussels had the highest microplastic content in edible flesh, with polystyrene and polyethylene being the dominant polymer types. Cell-based toxicity testing showed that microplastics from certain species caused increased intestinal cell death and hemolytic activity, indicating potential health risks from seafood consumption.

2025 Marine Environmental Research 1 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)
Article Tier 2

Microplastic accumulation in bivalves collected from different coastal areas of Vietnam and an assessment of potential risks

Researchers analyzed microplastic accumulation in five common bivalve species collected from aquaculture areas along the coast of Vietnam, finding microplastics in all samples with an average of about 10.84 items per individual. Fibers were the most common shape, concentrated in gills and digestive glands, and a risk assessment suggested potential implications for human health through seafood consumption.

2023 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in retail shellfish from a seafood market in eastern Thailand: Occurrence and risks to human food safety

Researchers tested three popular types of shellfish sold at a Thai seafood market and found microplastics in all of them, with polystyrene and polyethylene being the most common plastic types. They estimated that Thai consumers could ingest up to about 1,178 microplastic particles per year just from shellfish. The health risk assessment rated the contamination at moderate to high concern levels.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in commercial clams from the intertidal zone of the South Yellow Sea, China

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in commercial clams from the intertidal zone of China's South Yellow Sea, identifying polymer types and raising concerns about food safety and ecological risks in a commercially important shellfish habitat.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Contamination of Three Commonly Consumed Seafood Species from Taiwan: A Pilot Study

Researchers conducted a pilot study of microplastic contamination in three commonly consumed Taiwanese seafood species — hard clam, oyster, and Loligo squid — finding 100 microplastic particles across 107 individuals, with polypropylene and poly(ethylene:propylene:diene) as the most common polymer types. The study provided a first baseline of seafood microplastic contamination relevant to a population with high per-capita seafood consumption.

2020 Sustainability 28 citations