Where are we? Towards an understanding of the selective accumulation of microplastics in mussels

Comparative profiling and exposure assessment of microplastics in differently sized Manila clams from South Korea by μFTIR and Nile Red staining

“…Even when more MP were ingested through filter-feeding, more MP were also egested. Mussels were shown to quickly eliminate MP trapped in the gills as pseudo feces, while those that make their way into the gut are usually expelled as feces (Li et al, 2021). Li et al (2016) proposed that the balance between feeding and egestion will allow MP accumulation to reach a steady state wherein the MP concentration remains at a stable range.…”

Spatiotemporal characterisation of microplastics in the coastal regions of Singapore

“…Previous studies have detailed the egestion of some microplastics from marine organisms during depuration [ 72 ]. However, selective accumulation of microplastics still exists and is dependent on many factors such as the microplastic type and feeding characteristic of the organism [ 73 ]. Contaminated seafood adds to the existing ways which microplastics can enter the human body.…”

Fate of Microplastic Fibers in the Coelomic Fluid of the Sea Cucumber Apostichopus japonicus

“…In sea cucumbers (A. japonicus), individuals exposed to microplastic fibers and then transferred to clean water were found to contain lower microplastic fibers in their body walls after 48 h (Mohsen, Chenggang, et al, 2021). After transfer to clean water, reduced microplastic content was also observed in mussels (Li et al, 2021). For instance, after 1 h in clean water, M. edulis can eliminate approximately 150 ingested microplastic fibers (Woods et al, 2018).…”