Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Histopathological and cytochemical analysis of ingested polyethylenepowder in the digestive gland of the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis (L.)

Researchers examined the damage caused by ingested polyethylene powder in the digestive glands of blue mussels using microscopy and chemical staining, providing histological evidence of cellular effects. The study demonstrated that physical ingestion of plastic particles causes measurable tissue-level harm in the digestive organs of these widely consumed shellfish.

2010 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Tissue-Specific Biomarker Responses in the Blue Mussel Mytilus spp. Exposed to a Mixture of Microplastics at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations

Researchers exposed blue mussels to an environmentally relevant mixture of polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics at three concentrations and examined tissue-specific responses over 10 days of exposure and 10 days of depuration. They found that microplastics triggered different antioxidant responses in the digestive gland versus the gills, with some evidence of DNA damage and immune system changes. The study highlights that even low, environmentally realistic concentrations of microplastics can induce measurable biochemical stress in marine bivalves.

2019 Frontiers in Environmental Science 164 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure to low-density polyethylene microplastic particles: presence in Mytilus edulis tissues and pseudofeces

Researchers exposed blue mussels to low-density polyethylene microplastics at different concentrations for up to 56 days and found particles in gills, intestinal lumens, and digestive tissues. Mussels also expelled plastic particles in their pseudofeces, demonstrating both uptake and a partial clearance mechanism for microplastic exposure in filter feeders.

2020 Duo Research Archive (University of Oslo)
Article Tier 2

Cellular and tissue-level responses of mussels (Mytilus edulis) to aged polyethylene terephthalate (PET) micro- and nanoplastic particles

This study exposed mussels to environmentally realistic concentrations of aged PET micro- and nanoplastics and found measurable cellular damage even at the lowest doses tested. The plastic particles caused inflammation, oxidative stress, and tissue changes in the mussels' digestive systems. Since mussels are a common seafood and are often eaten whole, these findings are relevant to understanding human microplastic exposure through shellfish consumption.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of size continuum from nanoplastics to microplastics on marine mussel Mytilus edulis: Comparison in vitro/in vivo exposure scenarios

Researchers compared the effects of nanoplastics versus microplastics on marine mussels using both in vivo and in vitro approaches, finding that smaller plastic particles caused greater cellular and physiological impacts across the size continuum.

2022 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology 33 citations
Article Tier 2

In vivo bioaccumulation and responses of hemocytes of mussels Perna viridis to microplastics and nanoplastics exposure

Researchers found that mussels exposed to environmentally realistic levels of micro- and nanoplastics quickly accumulated the particles in their blood cells (hemocytes) at concentrations approaching those of the surrounding water. The smaller nanoplastics were more readily taken up and caused more damage to cellular structures called lysosomes. Since mussels are widely consumed as seafood, their ability to concentrate microplastics in their tissues is relevant to human dietary exposure.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Oxidative Stress in Mussel Mytilus trossulus Induced by Different-Sized Plastics

Researchers exposed mussels to both tiny polystyrene microparticles and larger polyethylene plastic fragments and found that both sizes triggered oxidative stress in the animals. The plastic exposure caused DNA damage, weakened cellular membranes, and destabilized immune cell structures in the mussels' gills and digestive glands. The findings indicate that plastics of any size and polymer type can be harmful to marine filter-feeding organisms.

2024 Journal of Xenobiotics 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Short-term exposure to polystyrene microplastics hampers the cellular function of gills in the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

Even short-term exposure (72 hours) to polystyrene microplastics disrupted gill function in Mediterranean mussels, a species commonly eaten by humans. The microplastics accumulated in gill tissue and caused metabolic disorders including changes in energy production, nerve signaling, and salt balance, along with oxidative stress. Since mussels are filter feeders that concentrate microplastics from seawater, these findings raise questions about the quality of shellfish as human food.

2023 Aquatic Toxicology 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingestion and effects from microplastic (polyethylene) derived from toothpaste on blue mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis)

This study exposed blue mussels to polyethylene microplastics sourced directly from toothpaste and found that the particles caused physiological stress, reduced feeding activity, and elevated inflammatory markers. The results show that PE microbeads from consumer products can directly harm filter-feeding shellfish, raising concerns about human dietary exposure from seafood.

2016 DIGITAL.CSIC (Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)) 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingested Microscopic Plastic Translocates to the Circulatory System of the Mussel, Mytilus edulis (L.)

Researchers discovered that microplastic particles ingested by mussels can move from the gut into the circulatory system within three days and persist in the body for over 48 days. Smaller particles accumulated more readily than larger ones, suggesting that as plastic debris breaks down into ever-smaller fragments in the environment, the potential for it to build up inside living organisms increases.

2008 Environmental Science & Technology 2164 citations
Article Tier 2

An assessment of the ability to ingest and excrete microplastics by filter-feeders: A case study with the Mediterranean mussel

Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) were exposed to spherical polystyrene microplastics of different sizes and concentrations and examined for tissue-level effects and ingestion/egestion dynamics, with smaller particles showing greater retention and histological changes in digestive tissue. The study provides detailed pathophysiological evidence that MP size governs both retention time and the severity of tissue-level effects in marine filter feeders.

2018 Environmental Pollution 157 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics in the marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis.

This study investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics affect Mediterranean mussels, an important marine species and human food source. Researchers found that these tiny plastic particles can cross cell membranes, accumulate in tissues, and trigger oxidative stress and immune responses. The findings suggest that nanoplastic pollution in the ocean could affect both marine ecosystem health and the safety of seafood consumed by people.

2023 Environmental Pollution 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics: From tissue accumulation to cell translocation into Mytilus galloprovincialis hemocytes. resilience of immune cells exposed to nanoplastics and nanoplastics plus Vibrio splendidus combination

Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoplastics of different sizes accumulate in and affect the immune cells of Mediterranean mussels. They found that the smallest nanoparticles quickly moved from the digestive system into the bloodstream and were taken up by immune cells, altering their function including motility and the ability to produce reactive oxygen species. However, the immune cells showed resilience by recovering their ability to fight bacterial infection after nanoplastic exposure.

2019 Journal of Hazardous Materials 167 citations
Review Tier 2

Immunological responses, oxidative stress, and histopathological effects of nanoplastics on commercially relevant mussel species: A review

This review examines how nanoplastics affect commercially important mussel species, finding that these tiny particles can cross biological barriers and accumulate in tissues. Evidence indicates that nanoplastic exposure alters metabolic rates, triggers immune responses, causes oxidative stress and DNA damage, and changes the structure of gills, gonads, and gut tissue. The findings raise concerns about both mussel health and potential implications for seafood safety.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic particles are phagocytosed in gill cells of deep-sea and coastal mussels

Researchers exposed deep-sea chemosynthetic mussels and coastal mussels to fluorescently labeled microplastic beads and identified gill cell types that preferentially internalize plastic particles through phagocytosis. The study showed that plastic uptake through gill surfaces is an important non-dietary route of microplastic exposure in bivalves.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of environmentally relevant levels of polyethylene microplastic on Mytilus galloprovincialis (Mollusca: Bivalvia): filtration rate and oxidative stress

Researchers exposed Mediterranean mussels to polyethylene microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations and found significant reductions in filtration rate and signs of oxidative damage in the digestive gland. The study suggests that microplastics as small as 40-48 micrometers can disrupt antioxidant defenses in bivalves even at low concentrations, raising concerns about their impact on marine filter-feeders.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 99 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of Synthetic Microfibers on Cellular and Biochemical Biomarkers in Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

Scientists found that tiny plastic fibers from clothing and fishing gear can harm mussels by damaging their cells and disrupting important body functions, even at pollution levels currently found in our oceans. This matters because mussels filter water and are eaten by humans, so plastic pollution that harms these shellfish could also affect the safety of seafood we consume. The study shows that microplastic pollution is already at levels that can damage marine life we depend on for food.

2026 Microplastics
Article Tier 2

Ingestion and effects of micro- and nanoplastics in blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) larvae

Blue mussel larvae were exposed to 100 nm and 2 μm polystyrene beads and microplastics were found to remain inside larvae despite active egestion, with growth unaffected but the proportion of abnormally developed larvae increasing at the highest polystyrene concentration (282 μg/L). The findings suggest that early developmental stages of mussels can be harmed by microplastic exposure at concentrations relevant to polluted coastal areas.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 107 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

Occurrence and human health risks of microplastics in the Bay of Bengal using Perna viridis as sentinel species

Researchers found microplastics in water, sediment, and green mussel tissues at every site tested across five locations in the Bay of Bengal. The mussels showed tissue damage including inflammation and cell death linked to microplastic accumulation, with the digestive gland carrying the highest burden. Since these mussels are consumed by local communities, the findings raise direct concerns about human microplastic exposure through seafood.

2026 Chemical Engineering Journal Advances 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic fiber uptake, ingestion, and egestion rates in the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis)

Researchers used imaging flow cytometry to measure microplastic fiber uptake in blue mussels (Mytilus edulis), finding that filtration rates dropped sharply with increasing fiber concentration, that 71% of fibers were rejected as pseudofeces rather than ingested, and that mussels may function as significant microplastic sinks in coastal waters.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 332 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic ingestion in mussels from the East Mediterranean Sea: Exploring its impacts in nature and controlled conditions

Mussels from fish farms in the eastern Mediterranean had the highest microplastic contamination, likely from plastic aquaculture equipment, while mussels from a Marine Protected Area had the lowest. The study found that higher microplastic levels in mussels were linked to measurable signs of oxidative stress, DNA damage, and nerve toxicity, showing that these filter-feeding shellfish -- commonly eaten by people -- are actively harmed by the plastic particles they ingest.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure to microplastics reduces attachment strength and alters the haemolymph proteome of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis)

Researchers found that blue mussels exposed to polyethylene microplastics for 52 days produced fewer attachment threads and lost about 50% of their grip strength. Both conventional and biodegradable microplastics altered proteins in the mussels' blood involved in immune regulation, metabolism, and structural development, suggesting microplastics could undermine reef formation.

2018 Environmental Pollution 226 citations
Article Tier 2

Dynamic of small polyethylene microplastics (≤10 μm) in mussel's tissues

Mussels were exposed to a single dose of irregularly shaped HDPE particles (mainly ≤10 μm) followed by 7-day depuration, with particles accumulating in the digestive gland and gills over time and smaller fractions (≤4 μm) showing translocation from the digestive system to the gills. The study demonstrates that the smallest microplastic fractions persist longer and translocate to secondary tissues in bivalves.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 70 citations