Review article

https://doi.org/10.31727/m.26.6.1

Status of Microplastic Pollution in Marine Bivalves

Tanja Bogdanović orcid.org/0000-0003-1376-4301 ; Hrvatski veterinarski institut, Split, Hrvatska *
Sandra Petričević orcid.org/0000-0002-5664-6367 ; Hrvatski veterinarski institut, Split, Hrvatska
Zvonimir Jažo orcid.org/0000-0001-6824-0594 ; Hrvatski veterinarski institut, Split, Hrvatska
Irena Listeš ; Hrvatski veterinarski institut, Split, Hrvatska
Eddy Listeš ; Hrvatski veterinarski institut, Split, Hrvatska
Darja Sokolić ; Fakultet za turizam i ruralni razvoj, Požega, Hrvatska
Jelka Pleadin orcid.org/0000-0002-0768-0462 ; Hrvatski veterinarski institut, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Kristina Kvrgić orcid.org/0000-0002-2102-1113 ; Hrvatski veterinarski institut, Rijeka, Hrvatska

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

Monitoring the state of the environment by measuring the levels of various pollutants (contaminants) in mussels also makes it possible to observe biological changes and harmful effects of pollutants to which these organisms are exposed and to assess the impact of human activities on a given ecosystem. The accumulation of various pollutants in shellfish intended for consumption poses a constant threat to humans, who as consumers are at the top of the food chain. Microplastics are a complex pollutant comprising a very broad spectrum of particles that pose a unique challenge for risk assessment due to their extraordinary diversity (size, shape, solubility, polymer composition, adsorbed chemicals, biological material, etc.). The main reason why shellfish represent a potential threat to consumers lies in the biology of their organism, as they are filter feeders capable of accumulating various substances from the environment in their tissues. To understand the chemical risk of microplastics, a polymer profile model, i.e. the toxicity of their monomers, is used. In addition to chemical characterization, the analysis of microplastics undoubtedly includes the determination of the total number of particles in order to assess human exposure to microplastics, based on data on the dietary habits of the target population. This article reviews the literature data considering the microplastics in bivalves, the chemical characterization of microplastics and their occurrence in different marine bivalves.

Keywords

microplastics; marine bivalves; pollution; chemical risk of microplastics

Hrčak ID:

323274

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/323274

Publication date:

7.12.2024.

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