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Updated: Aug 2, 2025

Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris
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Mussel power: Scoping a nature-based solution to microplastic debris.

Matthew Cole1, Yuri Artioli1, Rachel Coppock1

  • 1Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth PL1 3DH, UK.

Journal of Hazardous Materials
|April 22, 2023
PubMed
Summary

Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) can act as effective biofilters, removing microplastics from aquatic environments. This nature-based solution shows promise for reducing plastic pollution in waterways.

Keywords:
BivalveEcosystem-based mitigationMytilusPlasticPollution

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Marine Biology
  • Ecotoxicology

Background:

  • Microplastic pollution is a significant global environmental challenge.
  • Effective interventions require both source reduction and remediation strategies.
  • Nature-based solutions offer innovative approaches to environmental remediation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the feasibility of using mussels as biofilters for microplastic removal.
  • To quantify the microplastic removal capacity of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis).
  • To assess the potential of mussel biodeposits for microplastic capture and removal.

Main Methods:

  • Laboratory experiments exposing mussels to microplastics in a flume tank.
  • Measurement of microplastic reduction rates and mussel biodeposit sinking velocities.
  • Modeling mussel deployment for large-scale microplastic removal in estuaries.
  • Field deployment of a prototype biodeposit collection system in an urban marina.

Main Results:

  • Mussels significantly reduced microplastic concentrations in laboratory settings.
  • Mussel biodeposits sank effectively, facilitating their collection.
  • Modeling indicated large-scale deployment could remove a substantial percentage of riverine microplastics.
  • Prototype system demonstrated successful microplastic repackaging and collection by mussels.

Conclusions:

  • Blue mussels show potential as a nature-based solution for microplastic biofiltration.
  • Mussel biodeposition is a viable mechanism for concentrating microplastics for removal.
  • Further development of mussel-based systems could contribute to mitigating aquatic microplastic pollution.