Oysters and mussels as equivalent sentinels of microplastics and natural particles in coastal environments

Autor(es)

Ribeiro, Victor Vasques ; Nobre, Caio Rodrigues ; Moreno, Beatriz Barbosa ; Semensatto, Decio ; Sanz-Lazaro, Carlos ; Moreira, Lucas Buruaem ; Castro, Italo Braga

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Science of The Total Environment; v. 874, p. 12-pg., 2023-03-01.

Resumo

Filter-feeder organisms such as oyster and mussels are exposed to particles like microplastics (MPs). Although widely used to monitor MPs contamination, little is known about their performance as sentinels, which are biological moni-tors accumulating contaminants without significant adverse effects. This study comparatively evaluated the quantita-tive and qualitative accumulation of MPs by oysters (Crassostrea brasiliana) and mussels (Perna perna) along a gradient of contamination in a highly urbanized estuarine system of Brazil. In the most contaminated site, both species pre-sented the worst status of nutrition and health, and also one of the highest MPs levels reported for molluscs to date (up to 44.1 particles center dot g-1). Despite some inter-specific differences, oysters and mussels were suitable and showed an equivalent performance as sentinels, reflecting the gradient condition demonstrated for other contaminants in the re-gion. The similarity in MPs accumulation was also observed for qualitative aspects (polymer composition, sizes, shapes and colors). Particles were mostly <1000 mu m, fibrous, colorless and composed by cellulose and polymethyl methacry-late (PMMA). Thus, despite small variations, the usage of C. brasiliana and P. perna is recommended and provides re-liable information for environmental levels of microplastics. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 20/08960-7 - Mexilhões (Perna perna) e ostras (Crassostrea brasiliana) como bioindicadores da contaminação por microplástico no estuário de Santos (SP)
• Beneficiário: Victor Vasques Ribeiro
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Mestrado
• Processo FAPESP: 21/08471-9 - Análise global do transcriptoma de organismos bentônicos usados como modelos para caracterização de efeitos tóxicos de sedimentos marinhos contaminados
• Beneficiário: Lucas Buruaem Moreira
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Programa BIOTA - Jovens Pesquisadores
• Processo FAPESP: 20/00068-8 - Análise global do transcriptoma de organismos bentônicos usados como modelos para caracterização de efeitos tóxicos de sedimentos marinhos contaminados
• Beneficiário: Lucas Buruaem Moreira
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Programa BIOTA - Jovens Pesquisadores