Microplastics uptake in wild Asian green mussels sampled from Pasir Putih estuary in Johor, Malaysia

Abstract

The high concentrations of plastic and plastic debris in the environment continue to rise each year as most plastics undergo minimal biological degradation. As plastics are exposed to sunlight, the atmosphere, and water, these polymers break into smaller pieces and become individual polymer molecules. In this study, the presence of microplastics (MPs) in mussels was investigated. Wild Asian green mussels (Perna viridis) samples were collected from the Pasir Putih estuary for 3 months and were categorised according to size. The density was separated using NaCl solution, and the removed soft tissues were digested with 10% KOH solution. By using FTIR spectrometry, of the particles identified in all samples collected, the majority were nylon (polyamides) in the form of fibres. The average number of fibres detected in small, medium, and large samples is 1.31, 1.05, and 0.79 items/g, respectively. Despite the widespread MPs in the environment, the actual number of MPs, particularly MP fibres, is unprecedented and expected to be higher. The abundance of MPs detected in mussels not only affects health, fecundity, and ecosystem services provided by bivalves but also presents a route for human exposure.

Shell Deformities in the Green-Lipped Mussel Perna viridis: Occurrence and Potential Environmental Stresses on the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia

“…This indicates a potential increase in heavy metal effluent discharge from industrial areas over the decade. The study from Zahid et al [26] on the microplastic accumulation in green mussels at the same site found that the smaller green mussels accumulated more microplastic inside the soft tissue than the larger-sized mussel, suggesting that microplastic accumulation might also be the potential factor that affected shell deformities. Other possible factors, such as polonium (Po) contamination, were higher in wild green mussels than the cultured and market green mussels due to direct contamination from industrial and domestic discharges [28].…”

“…Shell deformities in green mussels were suggested to be influenced by many factors, such as the presence of heavy metal contamination (Cd and Cu) that were discharged by the nearby industrial areas, hydrocarbons contamination [25], as well as microplastic contamination from [26]. Yap et al [27] previously found that 9.52% of the green mussels in Kg.…”