Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Factors influencing the microplastic contamination of bivalves from the French Atlantic coast: Location, season and/or mode of life?

This study characterized microplastic contamination in blue mussels and Pacific oysters collected from the French Atlantic coast, examining how season, location, and organism size influence contamination levels. The findings provide a baseline for monitoring bivalve contamination and informing seafood safety assessments.

2017 Marine Pollution Bulletin 294 citations
Article Tier 2

Aquaculture in the crossroad of microplastic contamination

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in three commercially important shellfish species -- oysters, clams, and mussels -- from aquaculture operations in different climate conditions. They found microplastics present in all species and at all sites, with polyester and polyethylene being the most common types. The study raises awareness that aquaculture practices and equipment may contribute to microplastic contamination in farmed seafood.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in bivalves and their habitat in relation to shellfish aquaculture proximity in coastal British Columbia, Canada

Researchers compared microplastic concentrations in Manila clams and Pacific oysters grown at commercial shellfish aquaculture sites versus reference beaches in coastal British Columbia, finding that proximity to aquaculture operations influenced microplastic levels in both bivalves and surrounding sediments.

2019 Aquaculture Environment Interactions 105 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

Microplastic on our plate, also in our shops…

Belgian researchers investigated whether microplastics are actually present in wild and farmed bivalves under field conditions, rather than only at the unrealistically high concentrations used in lab studies. They found microplastics in both wild and cultured mussels and oysters, providing the first direct evidence that these seafood species accumulate microplastics at environmentally relevant levels.

2014 Flanders Marine Institute (Flanders Marine Institute)
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of microplastics in Jurujuba Cove, Niterói, RJ, Brazil, an area of mussels farming

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in waters of Jurujuba Cove, Brazil — an active mussel farming area — across wet and dry seasons, finding high concentrations of diverse synthetic polymers in both seasons and concluding that areas with such contamination levels pose a risk to consumers of farmed shellfish.

2016 Marine Pollution Bulletin 125 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance and characterization of microplastics in wild and cultured blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) and American oysters (Crassostrea virginica) from Nova Scotia

Researchers quantified and characterized microplastics in wild and cultured blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) and American oysters (Crassostrea virginica) from Nova Scotia, assessing how plastic contamination varies between farmed and wild bivalves in Canadian coastal waters.

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

Comparative analysis of microplastic pollution in commercially relevant seafood across different geographical regions

Researchers analyzed microplastic pollution in commercially important seafood species, characterizing particle morphology and polymer composition across species. The study found microplastics in all species sampled, with differences in contamination levels linked to feeding ecology and habitat.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Concentrations in Two Oregon Bivalve Species: Spatial, Temporal, and Species Variability

Pacific oysters and razor clams from Oregon were found to contain microplastics, with concentrations varying by species, location, and season. The findings have direct relevance for human health since both species are commercially harvested and consumed.

2019 10 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

Seasonality influences microplastic occurrence in cultured European flat oyster

Researchers monitored microplastic occurrence in cultured European flat oysters across seasons, finding that seasonal variation in water quality and phytoplankton abundance influenced microplastic uptake. Oyster contamination levels fluctuated significantly by season, with implications for food safety monitoring.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Microplastic concentrations in cultured oysters in two seasons from two bays of Baja California, Mexico

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in cultured Pacific oysters from two bays in Baja California, Mexico, across winter and summer seasons. Microfibers were the most abundant particle type found in all samples, with higher concentrations observed during winter. The study suggests that seasonal and spatial factors influence microplastic accumulation in farmed shellfish, which is relevant given that oysters are consumed whole by humans.

2021 Environmental Pollution 57 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparative analysis of microplastic pollution in commercially relevant seafood across different geographical regions

This study compared microplastic contamination across commercially relevant seafood species commonly consumed in the European market, characterizing both the morphological and chemical properties of particles found in edible tissue. Results showed widespread but variable contamination across species, with polymer types and particle abundance differing by species and tissue type.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in marine bivalves, surface water and sediments from an aquaculture in Portugal and possible intake by humans

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in oysters, clams, surface water, and sediments at a Portuguese shellfish farm and estimated the resulting daily human intake from consuming these organisms. Diploid oysters and clams had higher microplastic levels than triploid oysters, and seasonal differences in accumulation were observed. The study provides practical estimates of how much microplastic people may consume through shellfish, contributing to ongoing efforts to quantify dietary exposure.

2025 Regional Studies in Marine Science 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of environmental and anthropogenic factors on the composition, concentration and spatial distribution of microplastics: A case study of the Bay of Brest (Brittany, France)

Researchers surveyed microplastic concentrations in surface water and sediment at nine locations across the Bay of Brest, France, and found that pollution levels were highest near population centers and wastewater outfalls. The study identified both polymer types and size distributions, helping to trace the sources of microplastic contamination in this coastal bay.

2017 Environmental Pollution 422 citations
Article Tier 2

Coastal ecosystem inventory with characterization and identification of plastic contamination and additives from aquaculture materials

Researchers conducted a pilot study of an Atlantic French coastal area used for oyster aquaculture and found that 70% of beached plastics originated from aquaculture materials, while sediment samples contained microplastics carrying plastic-associated chemical additives, documenting a distinct aquaculture-driven contamination signature.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 36 citations
Article Tier 2

A comparison of microplastics in farmed and wild shellfish near Vancouver Island and potential implications for contaminant transfer to humans

Researchers compared microplastic concentrations in farmed and wild blue mussels, Manila clams, and Pacific oysters near Vancouver Island, finding significantly higher microplastic numbers in farmed shellfish than their wild counterparts.

2018 VIURRSpace (Vancouver Island University) 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Long-term trends of microplastics in seawater and farmed oysters in the Maowei Sea, China

Annual variation in microplastic abundance was tracked in seawater and farmed oysters in the Maowei Sea, a mariculture bay in southern China, over multiple years. The long-term monitoring revealed trends linking seasonal and anthropogenic factors to microplastic contamination levels in both water and shellfish.

2021 Environmental Pollution 84 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
Article Tier 2

Abundance and distribution of environmental microplastic in edible fish and mussels from the south Mediterranean coasts

Scientists found microplastics in every fish and mussel sample examined from the Algerian Mediterranean coast, with six common plastic types identified including polypropylene and polyethylene. The contaminated species are widely consumed by local populations. This study adds to growing evidence that people eating seafood are regularly exposed to microplastics, and helps establish baseline pollution data for an understudied region.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in filter-feeding bivalves inhabiting the natural ecosystem of Da Nang Bay: An investigation of oysters (Ostrea rivularis) and green mussels (Perna viridis)

Researchers found microplastics in 100% of examined oysters and green mussels from Da Nang Bay, Vietnam, with average densities of 3.5 items per gram of tissue, exceeding average contamination levels seen in seafood across Asia. Mussels showed considerably higher MP accumulation than oysters, with black plastic particles under 0.5 mm in fibrous form being the dominant type found.

2025 Vietnam Journal of Marine Science and Technology
Article Tier 2

Spatial distribution of anthropogenic particles and microplastics in a meso-tidal lagoon (Arcachon Bay, France): A multi-compartment approach

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination across multiple compartments (surface water, water column, sediments, and oysters) in the Arcachon Bay, a meso-tidal Atlantic lagoon in France, mapping spatial distribution and finding widespread contamination throughout the system.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in commercial molluscs from the lagoon of Bizerte (Northern Tunisia)

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in six species of commercially harvested molluscs from the lagoon of Bizerte in northern Tunisia. They found microplastic concentrations ranging from roughly 700 to 1,500 items per kilogram of wet weight, with fibers being the most common type and polyethylene and polypropylene the main polymers detected. The results suggest widespread microplastic pollution in these commercially important shellfish, raising concerns about trophic transfer through the food web and human dietary exposure.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 219 citations
Article Tier 2

One-year variation in quantity and properties of microplastics in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and cockles (Cerastoderma edule) from Aveiro lagoon

Researchers sampled mussels and cockles from the Aveiro lagoon in Portugal monthly throughout 2019 and found that microplastic quantity and properties (shape, size, color, polymer type) varied significantly across seasons, highlighting the importance of temporal sampling for accurate bivalve contamination assessments.

2023 Environmental Pollution 25 citations