Papers

61,005 results
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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

Microplastics in Pacific Northwest Bivalves: Ecological Prevalence, Harvester-Consumer Exposure, and Aquarium Exhibit Outcomes

Researchers quantified microplastics in Pacific oysters and razor clams from 15 coastal sites in Oregon, finding widespread contamination across the Pacific Northwest coast. The study also assessed exposure risks to seafood harvesters and consumers, contributing to understanding of how coastal plastic pollution reaches human food supplies.

2000
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Concentrations in Crassotrea gigas: Establishing a Baseline of Microplastic Contamination in Oregon’s Oyster Aquacultures

This study established baseline levels of microplastic contamination in Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) grown for human consumption in a coastal aquaculture operation. Establishing baselines is essential for tracking changes in contamination over time and assessing the human health implications of eating contaminated shellfish.

2017 1 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

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

Presence of microplastics in six bivalve species (Mollusca, Bivalvia) commercially exploited at the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, Central America

Researchers found microplastics in all six commercially exploited bivalve species sampled from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, with prevalence ranging from 74% to 100% across species, raising concerns about human exposure through seafood consumption in Central American coastal communities.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Pnw, Bivalves, and the Impact on Oceanic Ecosystems and Human Health

This review discusses how microplastics accumulate in bivalves such as oysters and mussels in Pacific Northwest coastal waters, how they move up the food chain, and why seafood consumers in the region may face elevated exposure risks. The paper synthesizes the threat to both marine ecosystem stability and human health from microplastic bioaccumulation in commercially important shellfish.

2023 International Research Journal of Modernization in Engineering Technology and Science
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

Baseline assessment of microplastics in commercially important marine bivalves from New York, U.S.A.

Researchers established the first baseline assessment of microplastics in eastern oysters and hard clams from New York coastal waters, finding microplastic contamination across all sampling sites and providing reference data for the northeast U.S. Atlantic region.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Low incidence of microplastic contaminants in Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas Thunberg) from the Salish Sea, USA

Researchers examined wild Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) from the Salish Sea in Washington State and found a relatively low incidence of microplastic contamination, with approximately 63% of oysters containing microparticles at an average of about 1.75 particles per individual. The results suggest that microplastic burden in this commercially important shellfish may be lower than reported in more heavily polluted regions.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 87 citations
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

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

Microplastics in four bivalve species and basis for using bivalves as bioindicators of microplastic pollution

Researchers found microplastics in 80% of shellfish samples (scallops, mussels, oysters, and clams) collected across four seasons in Qingdao, China. PVC and rayon fibers were the most common plastic types, with different shellfish species accumulating different sizes and types of particles. Since these shellfish are commonly eaten by people, the findings highlight a direct route for microplastics to enter the human diet through seafood.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 257 citations
Article Tier 2

Microfiber Content in Pacific Oysters (Crassostrea gigas) from Morro Bay, California

Researchers measured microfiber contamination in Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) from Morro Bay, California, to assess exposure levels in a commercially important shellfish species. Microfibers were detected in oysters across sampling sites, with concentrations varying by location and season, indicating consistent exposure to synthetic fiber pollution in this coastal environment.

2024 American Journal of Undergraduate Research
Article Tier 2

Spatio-temporal contamination of microplastics in shellfish farming regions: A case study

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in a major French shellfish farming region over one year, finding that mussels and oysters contained confirmed microplastics with polyethylene and polypropylene as dominant polymer types, varying by site and season.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and Characteristics of Microplastics in Barnacles and Wild Bivalves on the Coast of the Yellow Sea, China

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in wild barnacles and bivalves along the Yellow Sea coast of China. They found microplastics in all sampled organisms, with fibers being the dominant type, and observed spatial variation in contamination levels across different coastal sites. The study provides baseline data on microplastic pollution in wild shellfish populations that are smaller and potentially more vulnerable than farmed species.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance, composition, and distribution of microplastics in intertidal sediment and soft tissues of four species of Bivalvia from Southeast Brazilian urban beaches

Researchers found 100% microplastic contamination in intertidal sediments and four bivalve species from urbanized Brazilian beaches, identifying polypropylene, polyethylene, and PET polymers in organisms commonly consumed by humans.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Marine and Estuarine Species From the Coast of Portugal

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in five marine and estuarine species collected from the coast of Portugal, including mussels, clams, and polychaetes. They found microplastics in all species examined, with fibers being the most common type, and noted differences in contamination levels between sampling sites. The study contributes baseline data on microplastic pollution in commercially relevant Portuguese seafood species.

2021 Frontiers in Environmental Science 76 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

Microplastic in cultured oysters from different coastal areas of China

Researchers quantified microplastics in oysters from 17 coastal sites across China, finding contamination at every location with an average of 2.93 particles per gram of tissue. The most common types were fibers and fragments, and the study highlights the potential for human dietary exposure to microplastics through seafood consumption.

2018 The Science of The Total Environment 317 citations
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

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

Microplastics in mussels along the coastal waters of China

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in mussels collected from coastal waters spanning the entire coastline of China. They found microplastics in all samples, with fibers being the dominant type and concentrations varying by region. The study provides the first large-scale baseline data on microplastic pollution in Chinese coastal bivalves, highlighting areas of particular concern and confirming that filter-feeding shellfish are reliable indicators of local microplastic contamination.

2016 Environmental Pollution 871 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