Papers

61,005 results
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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

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

Plastics on the Half Shell

Researchers found that people who regularly eat oysters, mussels, and other bivalves may be consuming thousands of microplastic particles annually, based on Belgian studies measuring microplastics in commercially farmed shellfish. The findings provided the first direct evidence that microplastics enter the human diet through seafood consumption.

2015 BioScience 5 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

Occurrence of microplastics in Mytilus edulis and Arenicola marina collected along the French-Belgian-Dutch coast

Researchers measured microplastics in blue mussels and lugworms collected from beaches along the French, Belgian, and Dutch coasts, finding microplastics in both species at levels reflecting environmental concentrations. The study bridged the gap between high-concentration lab experiments and field reality by documenting actual microplastic contamination in these commonly consumed and studied marine species.

2012 3 citations
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

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

Are bivalves a source of microplastics for humans? A case study in the Brazilian markets

Researchers found that all four species of bivalves sold in Brazilian markets contained microplastics, averaging 1.64 particles per gram, confirming that commercially sold shellfish are a source of microplastic exposure for consumers.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in commercial bivalves from China

Researchers analyzed microplastics in commercially sold bivalves from China, finding contamination across multiple species and geographic origins, with implications for human dietary microplastic exposure through shellfish consumption.

2015 Environmental Pollution 960 citations
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 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

Extraction and identification of microplastics from mussels: Method development and preliminary results

Scientists developed and validated a method for extracting and identifying microplastics from mussel tissue, then applied it to measure contamination in commercially harvested mussels. The method produced reliable, reproducible results, providing a practical tool for monitoring microplastic levels in one of the world's most widely consumed shellfish.

2021 Italian Journal of Food Safety 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Towards Risk Assessments of Microplastics in Bivalve Mollusks Globally

Researchers compiled data from 22 countries to assess the risk of microplastic contamination in bivalve mollusks such as mussels and oysters. While most countries showed relatively low pollution levels, the chemical composition of the microplastics found in bivalves varied widely, with some polymers posing greater health concerns than others. The study estimates that regular consumption of contaminated bivalves could represent a meaningful pathway for human microplastic exposure.

2022 Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 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

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

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

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

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

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
Systematic Review Tier 1

A systematic review on the prevalence and concentration of MPs in mussels

This systematic review examines how common microplastics are in mussels, a popular seafood. Since mussels filter large volumes of water, they tend to accumulate microplastics, which means people who eat them may be exposed to these particles through their diet.

2025 Open Science Framework
Article Tier 2

Detection and quantification of microplastics from cultured green mussel Perna viridis in Bacoor Bay, Cavite, Philippines

Microplastics were found in green mussels from Bacoor Bay in the Philippines, with an average of several particles per individual, confirming that commercially farmed bivalves in Southeast Asia are contaminated and representing a potential human exposure route through seafood consumption.

2021 Sustinere Journal of Environment and Sustainability 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Presence of microplastics in water column and tissue of farmed mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) in Slovenian sea

Researchers found microplastics and micro-debris in all water samples and 75.7% of mussels from three Slovenian sea farming sites. The highest concentrations appeared in surface waters at one site, raising concerns about microplastic contamination in commercially farmed shellfish.

2023 RUNG
Article Tier 2

Microplastic prevalence, diversity and characteristics in commercially important edible bivalves and gastropods in relation to environmental matrices

Researchers assessed microplastic abundance and characteristics in the tissues of commercially important bivalves and gastropods from the southwest coast of India, finding MPs across all five species examined and raising concerns about seafood safety.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 26 citations
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