Preliminary survey on the occurrence of microplastics in bivalve mollusks marketed in Apulian fish markets

Submitted: 4 October 2022
Accepted: 7 February 2023
Published: 8 June 2023
Abstract Views: 1917
PDF: 344
HTML: 22
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Authors

Microplastics (MPs) are a relevant threat to food safety because they are ingested by humans through various foods. Bivalves are at high risk of microplastic contamination due to their filter-feeding mechanism and pose a risk to consumers as they are ingested whole. In this work, microplastics were detected, quantified, identified, and classified in samples of mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and oysters (Crassostrea gigas) marketed in the Apulia region. The total number of plastic debris was 789 particles in the mussel samples and 270 particles in the oyster samples, with size ranging from 10 to 7350 µm. Fragments with size within the category of 5-500 µm were the predominant findings in both species, with blue as the predominant color in mussels and transparent in oysters; most of the debris was polyamide and nylon polymers in the mussels and chlorinated polypropylene in the oysters. These results show that mussel and oyster samples purchased at fish markets are contaminated with microplastics. The sources may be diverse and further studies are needed to assess the impact of the marketing stage on microplastic contamination in bivalves to better define the human risk assessment associated with microplastic exposure from bivalves consumption.

Dimensions

Altmetric

PlumX Metrics

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Citations

Abidli S, Antunes JC, Ferreira JL, Lahbib Y, Sobral P, Trigui El Menif N, 2018. Microplastics in sediments from the littoral zone of the north Tunisian coast (Mediterranean Sea). Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 205:1-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2018.03.006
Amato-Lourenço LF, Carvalho-Oliveira R, Ribeiro Júnior G, dos Santos Galvao L, Ando RA, Mauad T, 2021. Presence of airborne microplastics in human lung tissue. J Hazard Mater 416:126124. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126124
Baechler BR, Granek EF, Hunter MV, Conn KE, 2019. Microplastic concentrations in two Oregon bivalve species: spatial, temporal, and species variability. Limnology and Oceanography Letters 5:54-65. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10124
Barboza LGA, Vethaakd AD, Lavorante BRBO, Lundebye AK, Guilhermino L, 2018. Marine microplastic debris: an emerging issue for food security, food safety, and human health. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 133:336-348. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.05.047
Bom FC, Sà F, 2022. Are bivalves a source of microplastics for humans? A case study in the Brazilian markets. Mar Pollut Bull 181:113823. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113823
Bonello, G., Varrella, P., Pane, L., 2018. First evaluation of microplastic content in benthic filter-feeders of the gulf of La Spezia (Ligurian sea). J Aquat Food Prod Technol 27:284-91. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10498850.2018.1427820
Cho Y, Shim WJ, Jang M, Han GM, Hong SH, 2019. Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in market bivalves from South Korea. Environ Pollut 245:1107-16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.11.091
Cormac Coughlan, 2019. The oyster market in Italy. Available from: https://www.bordbia.ie/industry/news/food-alerts/the-oyster-market-in-italy/.
EUMOFA, 2019. Case study, fresh mussels in the EU, price structure in the supply chain - focus on Denmark, Germany and Italy. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. Available from: https://www.eumofa.eu/documents/20178/151118/PTAT+Fresh+Mussel_EN.pdf.
European Commission, 2005. Commission Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 of 15 November 2005 on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs (Text with EEA relevance). In: Official Journal, L 338/1, 22/12/2005.
Fossi MC, Peda C, Compa M, Tsangaris C, Aloma C, Claro F, Ioakeimidis C, Galgani F, Hema T, Deudero S, Romeo T, Battaglia P, Andaloro F, Caliani I, Casini S, Panti C, Baini M, 2018. Bioindicators for monitoring marine litter ingestion and its impacts on Mediterranean biodiversity. Environ Pollut 237:1023-40. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.11.019
GESAMP, 2015. Sources, fate and effects of microplastics in the marine environment: a global assessment. London, UK: IMO.
Hermabessiere L, Paul-Pont I, Cassone A, Himber C, Receveur J, Jezequel R, El Rakwe M, Rinnert E, Rivière G, Lambert C, Huvet A, Dehaut A, Duflos G, Soudant P, 2019. Microplastic contamination and pollutant levels in mussels and cockles collected along the channel coasts. Environ Pollut 250:807-19. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.04.051
Imasha HUE, Babel S, 2021. Microplastics contamination in commercial green mussels from selected wet markets in Thailand. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 81:449-59. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-021-00886-4
Joint Research Centre, 2014. Guidance on monitoring of marine litter in european seas. Publications Office of the European Union. Available from: https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/76da424f-8144-45c6-9c5b-78c6a5f69c5d/language-en.
Leslie HA, van Velzen MJM, Brandsma SH, Vethaak AD, Garcia-Vallejo JJ, Lamoree MH, 2022. Discovery and quantification of plastic particle pollution in human blood. Environ Int 163:107199. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2022.107199
Li H, Shi M, Tian F, Lin L, Liu S, Hou R, Peng J, Xu X, 2022. Microplastics contamination in bivalves from the Daya Bay: species variability and spatio-temporal distribution and human health risks. Sci Total Environ 841:156749. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156749
Li J, Green C, Reynolds A, Shi H, Rotchell JM, 2018. Microplastics in mussels sampled from coastal waters and supermarkets in the United Kingdom. Environ Pollut 241:35-44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.05.038
Li J, Qu X, Su L, Zhang W, Yang D, Kolandhasamy P, Li D, Shi H, 2016. Microplastics in mussels along the coastal waters of China. Environ Pollut 214:177-84. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.04.012
Miedico O, Pompa C, Tarallo M, Chiaravalle AE, 2013. Assessment of heavy metals in bivalves molluscs of Apulian region: a 3-years control activity of a EU Laboratory. E3S Web of Conferences 1:11006. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/20130111006
Nalbone L, Cincotta F, Giarratana F, Ziino G, Panebianco A, 2021. Microplastics in fresh and processed mussels sampled from fish shops and large retail chains in Italy. Food Control 125:108003. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2021.108003
Prata JC, da Costa JP, Lopes I, Andrady AL, Duarte AC, Rocha-Santos T, 2021. A one health perspective of the impacts of microplastics on animal, human and environmental health. Sci Total Environ 777:146094. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146094
Ragusa A, Svelato A, Santacroce C, Catalano P, Notarstefano V, Carnevali O, Papa F, Rongioletti MCA, Baiocco F, Draghi S, D’Amore E, Rinaldo D, Matta M, Giorgini E, 2021. Plasticenta: first evidence of microplastics in human placenta. Environ Int 146:106274. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.106274
Renzi M, Guerranti C, Blašković A, 2018. Microplastic contents from maricultured and natural mussels. Mar Pollut Bull 131:248-51. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.04.035
Suaria G, Aliani S, 2014. Floating debris in the Mediterranean sea. Mar Pollut Bull 86:494-504. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.06.025
Ta AT, Pupuang P, Babel S, Wang LP, 2022. Investigation of microplastic contamination in blood cockles and green mussels from selected aquaculture farms and markets in Thailand. Chemosphere 303:134918. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134918
Teng J, Wang Q, Ran W, Wu D, Liu Y, Sun S, 2019. Microplastic in cultured oysters from different coastal areas of China. Sci Total Environ 653:1282-92. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.057
Thushari GGN, Senevirathna JDM, 2020. Plastic pollution in the marine environment. Heliyon 6:04709. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04709
Van Cauwenberghe L, Janssen CR, 2014. Microplastics in bivalves cultured for human consumption. Environ Pollut 193:65-70. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2014.06.010
Wang D, Su L, Ruan HD, Chen J, Lu J, Lee C, Jiang SY, 2021. Quantitative and qualitative determination of microplastics in oyster, seawater and sediment from the coastal areas in Zhuhai, China. Mar Pollut Bull 164:112000. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112000
Wang Z, Gao J, Zhao Y, Dai H, Jia J, Zhang D, 2021. Plastisphere enrich antibiotic resistance genes and potential pathogenic bacteria in sewage with pharmaceuticals. Sci Total Environ 768:144663. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144663
Ward JE, Rosa M, Shumway SE, 2019. Capture, ingestion, and egestion of microplastics by suspension-feeding bivalves: a 40-year history. Anthropocene Coasts 2:39-49. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/anc-2018-0027
Wright SL, Thompson RC, Galloway TS, 2013. The physical impacts of microplastics on marine organisms: a review. Environ Pollut 178:483-92. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2013.02.031
Zettler ER, Mincer TJ, Amaral-Zettler LA, 2013. Life in the “plastisphere”: microbial communities on plastic marine debris. Environ Sci Technol 47:7137-46. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/es401288x

How to Cite

1.
Quaglia NC, Capuozzo F, Ceci E, Cometa S, Di Pinto A, Mottola A, Piredda R, Dambrosio A. Preliminary survey on the occurrence of microplastics in bivalve mollusks marketed in Apulian fish markets. Ital J Food Safety [Internet]. 2023 Jun. 8 [cited 2024 Dec. 22];12(2). Available from: https://www.pagepressjournals.org/ijfs/article/view/10906