Determination of microplastic and mold species in mussels from the Marmara Sea, Turkiye

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the presence/abundance of microplastics and mold species in mussels and their implications for food safety and public health. Mussels, known to accumulate microplastics and mold species, were studied due to their role in the food chain. A sampling protocol covering a vast coastal area of Bursa Province along the Marmara Sea was implemented, gathering 410 raw mussel samples from 10 locations. After digestion with hydrogen peroxide, microplastics were examined using a stereomicroscope, and mold species were isolated and identified through matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis. A total of 496 microplastics were detected in the mussel samples, with fragment-type and black-colored microplastics being the predominant types. Results also revealed varying levels of microplastics contamination, with the highest rate recorded at Location 5 (28.02%). Notably, Location 5, characterized by its central yacht/boat harbor, exhibited the highest microplastics pollution, while Location 9, lacking such facilities, displayed the lowest contamination rate at 2.22%. Fragment-type microplastics were the most prevalent (26.1%), with black microplastics being the predominant color (38.51%). Among the 10 identified mold species, Penicillium and Aspergillus were the most prevalent. Notably, a remarkably high positive correlation was observed between fragment (r = .976; p < .001) and line (r = .888; p = .001) microplastics values. In the mussels collected from Location 5, where the highest microplastics were detected, three different species of mold were detected. In accordance with this result, the highest amount of mold belonging to two different genus were detected in the mussels from Location 2, where the second highest number of microplastics were detected. However, no correlation was found between the mold count and microplastics values. The presence of microplastics and mold in mussels underscores potential food safety and public health risks, emphasizing the need for ongoing monitoring and management to reduce these adverse effects.