Characteristics and hazard risk of microplastics in Sinonovacula constricta: from farming to market

Abstract

In this paper, I selected Sinonovacula constricta, a typical representative of commercial bivalve shellfish from Zhangzhou City, and found that microplastics were detected in all the samples with small sizes. The abundance in farm samples (3.65 n/g) was higher than in market samples (0.89 n/g), despite their smaller weight, which was mainly contributed by body fluid. Microplastics transported from the body fluid to the viscera and then metabolized into muscle were substantially reduced (69.3%), with only 0 or 1 microplastic observed in the muscles on the micron scale. The microplastics detected in the market samples were mainly concentrated in the viscera, accounting for 81%, while distributed in all the organs of farm samples, with body fluids accounting for 52%. A total of four shapes were detected, with the highest percentage of fibrous shape, while foam-like microplastics were not detected in the market samples. The abundance was not correlated with sample weight, but market samples showed a positive correlation. A total of seven polymers were detected, with the highest rate of polypropylene (PP) (27%). The polymer risk level reached level III. The percentage of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in the market samples exceeded that of farms, which resulted in a higher hazard risk index despite their lower abundance. The cleaning process and excretory behavior, from farms to markets, greatly reduced microplastic contamination.