Accumulation and characteristic of microplastics in cultured oysters (Saccostrea cucullata) and green mussels (Perna viridis) along the eastern coast of Thailand
Abstract:
This research aims to investigate the accumulation and types of microplastic (60-5000 micrometre) in two commercial bivalves: oysters (Saccostrea cucullata) and green mussels (Perna viridis) from mariculture farms along the eastern coast of Thailand. Samplings were performed in 7 stations from August 2019 to January 2020 and in December 2023. Green mussels taken from the coast of urban and petrochemical industry estates showed significantly higher microplastic quantity (109.1±56.4, 202.4±107.1 items/g wet weight, respectively) than that of the reference station (14.4±7.6 items/g wet weight). Microplastic size of 60-300 micrometres was dominant > 80% and significantly accumulated in the digestive tract rather than in other tissues. The principal shape of microplastic in oysters and green mussels was sheet. The µFT-IR was used to identify polymers of microplastics. We found PET, PE, and PS were polymers of sheet microplastic, whereas fibre shape was nylon, a main component of seed ropes for oysters and green mussels raft culture. The results from this research can be helpful for health risk assessment on bivalve consumption and lead to the minimization of microplastic in bivalve culture.