Microplastics uptake in wild Asian green mussels sampled from Pasir Putih estuary in Johor, Malaysia

The high concentrations of plastic and plastic debris in the environment continue to rise each year as most plastics undergo minimal biological degradation. As plastics are exposed to sunlight, the atmosphere, and water, these polymers break into smaller pieces and become individual polymer molecules. In this study, the presence of microplastics (MPs) in mussels was investigated. Wild Asian green mussels (Perna viridis) samples were collected from the Pasir Putih estuary for 3 months and were categorised according to size. The density was separated using NaCl solution, and the removed soft tissues were digested with 10% KOH solution. By using FTIR spectrometry, of the particles identified in all samples collected, the majority were nylon (polyamides) in the form of fibres. The average number of fibres detected in small, medium, and large samples is 1.31, 1.05, and 0.79 items/g, respectively. Despite the widespread MPs in the environment, the actual number of MPs, particularly MP fibres, is unprecedented and expected to be higher. The abundance of MPs detected in mussels not only affects health, fecundity, and ecosystem services provided by bivalves but also presents a route for human exposure.