The Global Spread of Microplastics: Contamination in Mussels, Clams, and Crustaceans from World Markets

Analysis of microplastic (MP) occurrence in commercially relevant species is a prerequisite for food risk assessment. Using a standardized methodology, we aimed to investigate MP contamination in point-of-sale clams, mussels, and Crustacea shellfish collected from various markets (Belgium, Croatia,...

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Main Authors: Tamara Mutić, Jelena Mutić, Miloš Ilić, Vesna Jovanović, Jelena Aćimović, Boban Andjelković, Dragana Stanić-Vucinić, Maria Krishna de Guzman, Mirjana Andjelkovic, Mirjana Turkalj, Tanja Cirkovic Velickovic
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Foods
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/23/3793
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author Tamara Mutić
Jelena Mutić
Miloš Ilić
Vesna Jovanović
Jelena Aćimović
Boban Andjelković
Dragana Stanić-Vucinić
Maria Krishna de Guzman
Mirjana Andjelkovic
Mirjana Turkalj
Tanja Cirkovic Velickovic
author_facet Tamara Mutić
Jelena Mutić
Miloš Ilić
Vesna Jovanović
Jelena Aćimović
Boban Andjelković
Dragana Stanić-Vucinić
Maria Krishna de Guzman
Mirjana Andjelkovic
Mirjana Turkalj
Tanja Cirkovic Velickovic
author_sort Tamara Mutić
collection DOAJ
description Analysis of microplastic (MP) occurrence in commercially relevant species is a prerequisite for food risk assessment. Using a standardized methodology, we aimed to investigate MP contamination in point-of-sale clams, mussels, and Crustacea shellfish collected from various markets (Belgium, Croatia, Serbia, and South Korea). An improved digestion protocol yielded ≥ 99.8% digestion efficiency for all species analyzed. In a total of 190 samples analyzed individually by microFTIR, MPs were identified in 43.68% of the samples with less than 1 MP/individual average (0–4 MP/individual, 0–1.35 MPs/g tissue). Significant differences between species were observed when considering samples contaminated with MPs, with Crustacea shellfish having the lowest MPs/g of edible tissue. Polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene were dominant MPs found in clams and mussels, while polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyvinyl chloride were the most abundant in Crustacea shellfish. Our data do not support the bioaccumulation or biomagnification of MPs with the size of the animal in the shellfish group. MP contamination is more strongly associated with the type of shellfish than with the geographical origin of the market.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2304-8158
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Foods
spelling doaj-art-a8cd887fd61547b5a1994ac0f79d6ad12024-12-13T16:26:38ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582024-11-011323379310.3390/foods13233793The Global Spread of Microplastics: Contamination in Mussels, Clams, and Crustaceans from World MarketsTamara Mutić0Jelena Mutić1Miloš Ilić2Vesna Jovanović3Jelena Aćimović4Boban Andjelković5Dragana Stanić-Vucinić6Maria Krishna de Guzman7Mirjana Andjelkovic8Mirjana Turkalj9Tanja Cirkovic Velickovic10Center of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaCenter of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaCenter of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaCenter of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaCenter of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaCenter of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaCenter of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaCenter for Food Biotechnology and Microbiology, Ghent University Global Campus, Incheon 21985, Republic of KoreaRisk and Health Impact Assessment, Sciensano, Juliette Wytsmanstreet 14, 1050 Brussels, BelgiumSrebrnjak Children’s Hospital, HR-10000 Zagreb, CroatiaCenter of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaAnalysis of microplastic (MP) occurrence in commercially relevant species is a prerequisite for food risk assessment. Using a standardized methodology, we aimed to investigate MP contamination in point-of-sale clams, mussels, and Crustacea shellfish collected from various markets (Belgium, Croatia, Serbia, and South Korea). An improved digestion protocol yielded ≥ 99.8% digestion efficiency for all species analyzed. In a total of 190 samples analyzed individually by microFTIR, MPs were identified in 43.68% of the samples with less than 1 MP/individual average (0–4 MP/individual, 0–1.35 MPs/g tissue). Significant differences between species were observed when considering samples contaminated with MPs, with Crustacea shellfish having the lowest MPs/g of edible tissue. Polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene were dominant MPs found in clams and mussels, while polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyvinyl chloride were the most abundant in Crustacea shellfish. Our data do not support the bioaccumulation or biomagnification of MPs with the size of the animal in the shellfish group. MP contamination is more strongly associated with the type of shellfish than with the geographical origin of the market.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/23/3793MPsmicroFTIRdigestionCrustacea shellfishbivalvescommercial seafood
spellingShingle Tamara Mutić
Jelena Mutić
Miloš Ilić
Vesna Jovanović
Jelena Aćimović
Boban Andjelković
Dragana Stanić-Vucinić
Maria Krishna de Guzman
Mirjana Andjelkovic
Mirjana Turkalj
Tanja Cirkovic Velickovic
The Global Spread of Microplastics: Contamination in Mussels, Clams, and Crustaceans from World Markets
Foods
MPs
microFTIR
digestion
Crustacea shellfish
bivalves
commercial seafood
title The Global Spread of Microplastics: Contamination in Mussels, Clams, and Crustaceans from World Markets
title_full The Global Spread of Microplastics: Contamination in Mussels, Clams, and Crustaceans from World Markets
title_fullStr The Global Spread of Microplastics: Contamination in Mussels, Clams, and Crustaceans from World Markets
title_full_unstemmed The Global Spread of Microplastics: Contamination in Mussels, Clams, and Crustaceans from World Markets
title_short The Global Spread of Microplastics: Contamination in Mussels, Clams, and Crustaceans from World Markets
title_sort global spread of microplastics contamination in mussels clams and crustaceans from world markets
topic MPs
microFTIR
digestion
Crustacea shellfish
bivalves
commercial seafood
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/23/3793
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