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How does bivalve size influence microplastics accumulation?

Yinglin Wu1, Jiading Yang2, Zitong Li2

  • 1Western Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Seafood Resource Sustainable Utilization, Lingnan Normal University, Zhanjiang, 524048, Guangdong, People's Republic of China; School of Life Science and Technology, Lingnan Normal University, Zhanjiang, 524048, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Materials Chemistry of Guangdong Higher Education Institute, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lingnan Normal University, Zhanjiang, 524048, People's Republic of China.

Environmental Research
|July 12, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Microplastics accumulate in hard clams, posing a food safety risk. Larger clams contain fewer microplastics per gram, reducing human intake risk when consumed.

Keywords:
Health risk assessmentMarine littersMicroplastics uptakeShellfish

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Area of Science:

  • Marine Biology
  • Environmental Science
  • Food Safety

Background:

  • Microplastics are widespread in marine environments, accumulating in filter-feeding bivalves.
  • Bivalves are a potential pathway for microplastic transfer to humans, raising food safety concerns.
  • The impact of bivalve morphology on microplastic accumulation and associated human intake risks is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate microplastic accumulation in the commercially important hard clam (Meretrix meretrix).
  • To analyze the influence of hard clam shell size on microplastic accumulation.
  • To assess the human intake risk of microplastics through hard clam consumption.

Main Methods:

  • Survey of hard clams from a fishery port city in southern China.
  • Quantification of microplastics per individual (MCI) and per gram (MCG).
  • Analysis of microplastic characteristics (type, size, color, polymer).
  • Estimation of annual microplastic intake (EAI) via hard clam consumption.

Main Results:

  • Microplastics were detected in all analyzed hard clams (MCI: 24.64 ± 19.11 items/individual; MCG: 0.66 ± 0.54 items/g).
  • Microplastic fibers and fragments (25–150 μm, dark colors) were dominant, primarily composed of PE, PET, and PP.
  • Increasing shell width correlated with higher MCI but lower MCG, and a decreased EAI risk.

Conclusions:

  • Hard clams accumulate significant levels of microplastics, presenting a considerable human intake risk (EAI: 6652.26 ± 5327.28 items/person/year).
  • Consuming larger hard clams can mitigate microplastic intake due to lower microplastic concentration per unit weight.
  • Identifying microplastic emission sources is crucial for effective food safety management in bivalve fisheries.