Papers

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Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in marine mussels from the Atlantic coast of North Portugal and human risk of microplastic intake through mussel consumption

Researchers analyzed wild mussels from Portugal's Atlantic coast and found microplastics in all samples, with an average of about 1.6 particles per gram of mussel tissue. Based on typical Portuguese seafood consumption patterns, the estimated annual human intake of microplastics from mussels alone was calculated, highlighting that regular shellfish consumers face meaningful microplastic exposure through their diet.

2024 Environmental Pollution 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Spanish Table Salt

This study analyzed samples of commercially sold Spanish table salt and found microplastics in some products, adding to a growing body of evidence that sea-derived food products are contaminated with plastic particles. The results underscore the difficulty of avoiding microplastic exposure in everyday foods.

2017 Scientific Reports 382 citations
Article Tier 2

In-depth analysis of microplastics reported from animal and algae seafood species: Implications for consumers and environmental health

Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in several seafood species and algae from the Bay of Biscay in Spain and estimated how much people might consume through their diet. They found that eating animal-based seafood carried a higher risk of microplastic ingestion than eating seaweed. The findings highlight that seafood is a meaningful source of human microplastic exposure, with implications for both consumer and environmental health.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Levels of microplastics and their characteristics in molluscs from North-West Mediterranean Sea: Human intake

Researchers measured microplastic contamination in commercially consumed mollusks along the Catalan coast of the Mediterranean Sea, finding microplastics in all species tested. Large oysters and mussels had the highest concentrations at around 19 to 23 particles per individual. Based on typical consumption patterns, the study estimated that the local adult population ingests an average of over 8,000 microplastic particles per year through mollusk consumption alone.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 84 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 pollution in wild and aquacultured Mediterranean mussels from the Sea of Marmara: Abundance, characteristics, and health risk estimations

Researchers compared microplastic contamination in wild and commercially farmed mussels from the Sea of Marmara in Turkey. They found microplastics in all mussel samples, with wild mussels containing somewhat different types and amounts compared to aquacultured ones, and fibers being the dominant form in both. The study estimates that regular consumption of these mussels represents a measurable pathway for human exposure to microplastics through seafood.

2023 Environmental Research 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in European sea salts – An example of exposure through consumer choice and of interstudy methodological discrepancies

Researchers analyzed 13 European sea salts and found microplastics in all of them, with industrially harvested salts containing more particles than traditionally harvested ones. They estimated that a person absorbs about 14 micrograms of microplastics annually from all salt consumption, with a quarter attributable to choosing sea salt specifically. The study also found that differences in research methods across studies make it difficult to compare microplastic levels in salt worldwide.

2023 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 37 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in fillets of Mediterranean seafood. A risk assessment study

Researchers analyzed fillets of several common Mediterranean seafood species for microplastic contamination and estimated the associated human dietary exposure. They detected microplastics in the edible tissue of all species tested, including sardines, sea bream, and mussels. The study provides risk estimates suggesting that regular seafood consumption represents a notable pathway for human microplastic ingestion.

2021 Environmental Research 101 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

Microplastic contents from maricultured and natural mussels

Researchers compared microplastic content in maricultured and wild mussels from Italian waters and found no significant difference between the two sources, with all recovered particles being filaments. The study estimates that consuming raw mussels could result in a median intake of 6 to 7 microplastic items per gram, highlighting a consistent route of human dietary exposure regardless of whether mussels are farmed or wild-caught.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 238 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

Risk assessment of microplastic in commercial salt sold in Malaysia

Researchers conducted a risk assessment of microplastics in commercial table salt sold in Malaysia, finding that contaminated seawater used during sea salt production introduces microplastics into a widely consumed daily food ingredient with potential adverse health effects.

2023 UiTM Institutional Repositories (Universiti Teknologi MARA)
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Microplastic contamination of salt intended for human consumption: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined microplastic contamination in table salt from around the world. It found that microplastics are present in most salt products intended for human consumption, with sea salt generally containing more particles than rock or lake salt, representing a consistent source of dietary microplastic exposure.

2020 SN Applied Sciences 60 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

Binational survey using Mytilus galloprovincialis as a bioindicator of microplastic pollution: Insights into chemical analysis and potential risk on humans

Researchers conducted surveys of microplastic contamination in mussels from coastal sites across Morocco and Tunisia, finding plastics in 79 to 100 percent of all samples. The most common types were polyethylene and polypropylene fibers and fragments, with chemical analysis revealing the presence of associated toxic additives. The study estimates that regular mussel consumers in these regions face meaningful microplastic intake, highlighting a potential human health concern.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantifying ecological risks of aquatic micro- and nanoplastic

This study analyzed microplastic contamination in table salts from multiple countries and found plastic particles present in the vast majority of samples tested. Sea salt contained the highest levels of microplastics compared to rock and lake salts, reflecting the extent of marine plastic pollution. The findings suggest that table salt is a previously underappreciated pathway for human microplastic ingestion, with estimated annual intake varying by geographic region.

2018 Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology 531 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigation of microplastics in edible wild mussels from İzmir Bay (Aegean Sea, Western Turkey): A risk assessment for the consumers

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in edible wild mussels and water samples from two stations in Izmir Bay, Turkey. They detected over 1,600 microplastic particles across 60 mussel samples and nearly 1,900 particles in water samples, with fibers being the dominant type. The study included a public health risk assessment suggesting that regular consumption of these mussels results in meaningful microplastic intake for consumers.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 51 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in Indonesian consumable salts

Researchers analyzed both traditionally produced and commercial branded sea salts from Indonesia and found microplastics in all samples tested. Traditionally produced salts contained the highest contamination levels, with up to 3,753 particles per kilogram, though branded salts also contained significant amounts. The study indicates that sea salt is a notable dietary source of microplastic exposure for consumers.

2024 Journal of Sea Research 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro and Nanoplastics size distribution in mussel tissues: first evidence, identification, and quantification in the nanogram range

Italian researchers used a highly sensitive mass spectrometry technique to detect and quantify both microplastics and nanoplastics in farmed mussels, finding plastic particles in every sample tested. Nanoplastics in the 20–200 nm range were present in substantial quantities, and the authors estimate that European seafood consumers could ingest over 2 milligrams of nanoplastics per year through mussel consumption alone. This is one of the first studies to directly quantify nanoplastics in a commonly eaten seafood, raising significant concerns about dietary exposure.

2023 Research Square (Research Square) 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Low levels of microplastics (MP) in wild mussels indicate that MP ingestion by humans is minimal compared to exposure via household fibres fallout during a meal

Researchers measured microplastic levels in wild mussels collected around the Scottish coast and found relatively low contamination compared to other studies. They then compared this to the amount of household dust fibers that settle onto a dinner plate during a typical meal and found that airborne fiber exposure during eating likely exceeds the microplastics ingested from a serving of mussels. The study suggests that for most people, indoor dust may be a more significant source of microplastic exposure than seafood consumption.

2018 Environmental Pollution 745 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring microplastics in commercial bivalve species and in bivalve aquaculture waters: Insights from the southern Pacific

Microplastics were detected in multiple commercially sold bivalve species (such as mussels and oysters) and in nearby inland and coastal waters. Because bivalves are widely eaten by humans, the findings raise direct concerns about microplastic dietary exposure through seafood consumption.

2025 Water Biology and Security 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Consuming microplastics? Investigation of commercial salts as a source of microplastics (MPs) in diet

Researchers analyzed various commercial Australian salts, including both marine and terrestrial varieties, for microplastic contamination. The study detected microplastics in all salt samples tested, including the first detection in black salt, indicating that commercial table salt is a potential dietary source of microplastic exposure for humans.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 43 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Table Salts: Sources, Abundance, Types, and Consumption– A Review

This global review synthesizes research on microplastic contamination in table salts, examining sources, abundance, particle types, and estimated human consumption, finding that sea salts tend to have higher microplastic loads than rock or lake salts.

2025 Pakistan Journal of Analytical & Environmental Chemistry
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and Characterization of Microplastics in Commercial Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from Apulia Region (Italy)

Scientists analyzed commercially sold mussels from markets in southern Italy and found microplastics in every sample tested. On average, each mussel contained about 1.6 plastic particles, with fibers being the most common type, followed by fragments. Since mussels are eaten whole by consumers, the findings highlight a direct pathway for human exposure to microplastics through seafood.

2023 Foods 26 citations