2018_EJRNL_PP_YOUNA_CHO_1.pdf
Terbatas Lili Sawaludin Mulyadi
» ITB
Terbatas Lili Sawaludin Mulyadi
» ITB
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 79e84% 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 mm 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.