Papers

20 results
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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

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

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

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

Microplastic distribution and composition in mudflat sediments and varnish clams (Nuttallia obscurata) at two estuaries of British Columbia, Canada: An assessment of potential anthropogenic sources

This study characterized the distribution, composition, and abundance of microplastics in mudflat sediments and in the tissues of varnish clams, a commercially harvested bivalve. High microplastic loads in both sediment and clam tissue raised concerns for seafood consumers and intertidal ecosystem health.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 5 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

Abundance and distribution of microplastics within surface sediments of a key shellfish growing region of Canada

Microplastics were found across all sediment size classes at shellfish farming sites in British Columbia, Canada, with higher concentrations in finer sediment fractions. The results raise concerns for the safety of bivalves grown in this region and for the broader health of one of Canada's most productive shellfish aquaculture areas.

2018 PLoS ONE 74 citations
Article Tier 2

Use of sediment dwelling bivalves to biomonitor plastic particle pollution in intertidal regions; A review and study

Varnish and Manila clams from eight intertidal sites in British Columbia, Canada were evaluated as potential biomonitors for microplastic pollution. The study found these bivalves accumulate microplastics and could serve as useful indicators for tracking contamination trends in coastal ecosystems.

2020 PLoS ONE 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of virgin and BaP-adsorbed microplastics ingestion by Manila clams (Ruditapes philippinarum)

Researchers exposed Manila clams to various microplastic polymer types, shapes, and concentrations, finding that clams preferentially ingested sphere-shaped particles due to their resemblance to microalgae, and that feeding rates declined as microplastic concentrations increased. The addition of benzo[a]pyrene as a co-stressor showed that microplastics can act as vectors for transporting hydrophobic contaminants into bivalve tissues.

2023 Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment and Analysis of Microplastics in Commercially Sold Bivalves from Los Baños, Laguna, and Lipa, Batangas, Philippines

Researchers extracted and characterized microplastics from three commercially sold bivalve species (green mussel, Manila clam, and freshwater clam) purchased at Philippine markets, finding contamination ranging from 0.52 to 2.94 microplastic particles per gram fresh weight with fibers being the most common type.

2025 UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
Systematic Review Tier 1

Microplastics ingestions by wild and aquaculture marine bivalves: A systematic review on field investigation study

This systematic review of 33 studies found that shellfish like mussels, oysters, and clams from both wild and farmed sources contain microplastics. Since many people eat these shellfish whole, including their digestive systems, this represents a direct pathway for microplastic ingestion by humans.

2023 Sustinere Journal of Environment and Sustainability 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in edible clams from popular recreational clam-digging sites in Hong Kong and implications for human health

Researchers examined 249 wild clams from recreational digging sites in Hong Kong and found that over 56% contained microplastics, averaging about one particle per individual. Based on consumption patterns, they estimated that Hong Kong residents may ingest over 14,000 microplastic particles annually from wild clam consumption alone. A risk assessment using a polymer hazard index indicated a medium level of concern for human health.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 46 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)
Review Tier 2

The Presence of Microplastics in Shellfish: A Review

This literature review synthesizes studies on microplastic presence in shellfish across global aquaculture and wild harvest settings, finding widespread contamination across species and highlighting ingestion during filter feeding as the dominant uptake route.

2024 Hydrogen Jurnal Kependidikan Kimia
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

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

Evaluation of the microplastics in bivalves and water column at Pantai Teluk Likas, North Borneo, Malaysia

Researchers found microplastics in all three species of shellfish and in the surrounding water at a popular beach in Sabah, Malaysia. One clam species contained over 113 microplastic particles per gram, primarily fibers made of common plastics like nylon and polypropylene. Since these shellfish are eaten by local communities, the contamination raises concerns about human exposure to microplastics through seafood consumption.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in bivalves cultured for human consumption

Researchers examined two commercially farmed bivalve species, mussels and oysters, and found microplastics in the edible tissues of both. Mussels contained an average of 0.36 particles per gram of tissue, while oysters had 0.47 particles per gram. Since these shellfish are consumed whole without removing the gut, the study suggests they represent a direct pathway for human ingestion of microplastics.

2014 Environmental Pollution 1992 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

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