Oil and POPs Research Group, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea; Department of Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea.
Oil and POPs Research Group, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea.
Environ Pollut. 2019 Feb;245:1107-1116. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.11.091. Epub 2018 Nov 29.
Microplastic contamination in marine organisms is a growing environmental issue with implications for seafood safety. Among marine organisms, shellfish are considered to be an important route of human exposure to microplastics because they filter a large volume of seawater while feeding and, thus, accumulate microplastics from seawater; furthermore, they are consumed whole, without gut removal. In this study, a market survey was carried out to understand microplastic contamination in domestic bivalves sold in fishery markets in three major cities of South Korea. Four popular bivalve species, oyster (Crassostrea gigas), mussel (Mytilus edulis), Manila clam (Tapes philippinarum) and scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis), were selected as monitoring species, which together account for 79-84% of total shellfish consumption in Korea. The mean concentration of microplastics in these four species was 0.15 ± 0.20 n/g and 0.97 ± 0.74 n/individual. Fragments and particles smaller than 300 μm were dominant shape and size, accounting for 76% and 65% of total microplastics, respectively. Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyester were the major polymer types. Interestingly, differing polymer compositions were observed according to the culture methods and habitat characteristics of each species. PS was found in high proportions in oysters and mussels cultured in the upper layer of the water column, while the proportions decreased and those of polyester increased in Manila clams and scallops that were cultured in intertidal sediments or the middle and bottom layers of the water column. The annual dietary intake of microplastics by the Korean population via shellfish consumption was estimated as 212 n/person·year. Our results suggested that microplastic pollution is widespread in commercial bivalves and we recommend a systematic and integrative market-basket survey to clarify the current status of human exposure to microplastics.
海洋生物中的微塑料污染是一个日益严重的环境问题，对海鲜安全产生影响。在海洋生物中，贝类被认为是人类接触微塑料的重要途径，因为它们在进食时会过滤大量的海水，从而从海水中积累微塑料；此外，它们被整个食用，而不经过肠道去除。在这项研究中，进行了一项市场调查，以了解韩国三个主要城市渔业市场销售的国产贝类中的微塑料污染情况。选择了四种受欢迎的贝类物种，牡蛎（Crassostrea gigas）、贻贝（Mytilus edulis）、菲律宾蛤仔（Tapes philippinarum）和扇贝（Patinopecten yessoensis）作为监测物种，它们共占韩国贝类总消费量的 79-84%。这四种贝类的微塑料平均浓度为 0.15±0.20 n/g 和 0.97±0.74 n/个体。小于 300 μm 的碎片和颗粒是主要的形状和大小，分别占总微塑料的 76%和 65%。聚乙烯（PE）、聚丙烯（PP）、聚苯乙烯（PS）和聚酯是主要的聚合物类型。有趣的是，根据每个物种的养殖方法和栖息地特征，观察到不同的聚合物组成。在水柱上层养殖的牡蛎和贻贝中发现了大量的 PS，而在养殖于潮间带沉积物或水柱中层和底层的菲律宾蛤仔和扇贝中，PS 的比例降低，聚酯的比例增加。通过食用贝类，韩国人口每年从微塑料中摄入的微塑料估计为 212 n/人·年。我们的研究结果表明，商业贝类中广泛存在微塑料污染，我们建议进行系统和综合的市场篮子调查，以阐明人类接触微塑料的现状。
