Microplastics in Mussels (<i>Mytilus galloprovincialis</i>): Understanding Pollution in Italian Seas
Plastic marine litter is a critical issue that threatens marine ecosystems. This study investigated microplastics (MPs) contamination in the Italian seas, involving regions significantly affected by pollution from urban, industrial and agricultural sources. The research, conducted in collaborations...
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/3/144 |
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| author | Silva Rubini Martina Munari Erika Baldini Filippo Barsi Daniela Meloni Nicola Pussini Francesca Barchiesi Gabriella Di Francesco Carmen Losasso Cristiano Cocumelli Salvatore Dara Sebastiano Virgilio Fabio Di Nocera Antonio Petrella Matteo Zinni Carmela Vaccaro Negar Eftekhari Stefano Manfredini Silvia Vertuani |
| author_facet | Silva Rubini Martina Munari Erika Baldini Filippo Barsi Daniela Meloni Nicola Pussini Francesca Barchiesi Gabriella Di Francesco Carmen Losasso Cristiano Cocumelli Salvatore Dara Sebastiano Virgilio Fabio Di Nocera Antonio Petrella Matteo Zinni Carmela Vaccaro Negar Eftekhari Stefano Manfredini Silvia Vertuani |
| author_sort | Silva Rubini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Plastic marine litter is a critical issue that threatens marine ecosystems. This study investigated microplastics (MPs) contamination in the Italian seas, involving regions significantly affected by pollution from urban, industrial and agricultural sources. The research, conducted in collaborations between 10 different Experimental Zooprophylactic Institutes throughout Italy, analyzed <i>Mytilus galloprovincialis</i> (common mussels) for its filtration capacity and suitability as a bioindicator. Using data from two projects funded by the Italian Ministry of Health, MPs were detected from 7% to 13% of mussel samples, mainly polypropylene and polystyrene fragments and fibers. These findings align with previous studies highlighting the pervasive presence of MPs and their potential risks as mussels are consumed whole, allowing MPs to be ingested. The study underscores the need for standardized detection methods and coordinated policies to mitigate plastic pollution. Public awareness campaigns and improved waste management practices are key to addressing the environmental and health impacts of MPs. Further research on the long-term effects of MPs on marine ecosystems and human health is essential to developing comprehensive mitigation strategies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dd2a5afdafa545a08966aa859e05d5f6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2305-6304 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxics |
| spelling | doaj-art-dd2a5afdafa545a08966aa859e05d5f62025-08-20T03:43:57ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042025-02-0113314410.3390/toxics13030144Microplastics in Mussels (<i>Mytilus galloprovincialis</i>): Understanding Pollution in Italian SeasSilva Rubini0Martina Munari1Erika Baldini2Filippo Barsi3Daniela Meloni4Nicola Pussini5Francesca Barchiesi6Gabriella Di Francesco7Carmen Losasso8Cristiano Cocumelli9Salvatore Dara10Sebastiano Virgilio11Fabio Di Nocera12Antonio Petrella13Matteo Zinni14Carmela Vaccaro15Negar Eftekhari16Stefano Manfredini17Silvia Vertuani18Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna, Ferrara Territorial Office, Via Modena 483, 44124 Ferrara, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna, Ferrara Territorial Office, Via Modena 483, 44124 Ferrara, ItalyDepartment of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Prevention, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna, Ferrara Territorial Office, Via Modena 483, 44124 Ferrara, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Savona—Imperia Territorial Office, Via Martini 6, 17100 Savona, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche, Ancona Territorial Office, Via Cupa di Posatora 3, 60100 Ancona, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise, Via Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell’Università 10, 35020 Legnaro, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana, Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178 Roma, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi, 3, 90129 Palermo, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Via Duca degli Abruzzi n. 8, 07100 Sassari, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Via Salute, 2, 80055 Portici, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, Via Manfredonia, n. 20, 71121 Foggia, ItalyMicrobiologia Ambientale e Molecolare—MICAMO Lab, Università degli Studi di Genova, Via Casaregis 50/12, 16129 Genova, ItalyDepartment of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Saragat 1, 44121 Ferrara, ItalyDepartment of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Saragat 1, 44121 Ferrara, ItalyDepartment of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Prevention, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, ItalyDepartment of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Prevention, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, ItalyPlastic marine litter is a critical issue that threatens marine ecosystems. This study investigated microplastics (MPs) contamination in the Italian seas, involving regions significantly affected by pollution from urban, industrial and agricultural sources. The research, conducted in collaborations between 10 different Experimental Zooprophylactic Institutes throughout Italy, analyzed <i>Mytilus galloprovincialis</i> (common mussels) for its filtration capacity and suitability as a bioindicator. Using data from two projects funded by the Italian Ministry of Health, MPs were detected from 7% to 13% of mussel samples, mainly polypropylene and polystyrene fragments and fibers. These findings align with previous studies highlighting the pervasive presence of MPs and their potential risks as mussels are consumed whole, allowing MPs to be ingested. The study underscores the need for standardized detection methods and coordinated policies to mitigate plastic pollution. Public awareness campaigns and improved waste management practices are key to addressing the environmental and health impacts of MPs. Further research on the long-term effects of MPs on marine ecosystems and human health is essential to developing comprehensive mitigation strategies.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/3/144microplastics<i>Mytilus galloprovincialis</i>environmental riskhuman healthRaman spectroscopymarine pollution |
| spellingShingle | Silva Rubini Martina Munari Erika Baldini Filippo Barsi Daniela Meloni Nicola Pussini Francesca Barchiesi Gabriella Di Francesco Carmen Losasso Cristiano Cocumelli Salvatore Dara Sebastiano Virgilio Fabio Di Nocera Antonio Petrella Matteo Zinni Carmela Vaccaro Negar Eftekhari Stefano Manfredini Silvia Vertuani Microplastics in Mussels (<i>Mytilus galloprovincialis</i>): Understanding Pollution in Italian Seas Toxics microplastics <i>Mytilus galloprovincialis</i> environmental risk human health Raman spectroscopy marine pollution |
| title | Microplastics in Mussels (<i>Mytilus galloprovincialis</i>): Understanding Pollution in Italian Seas |
| title_full | Microplastics in Mussels (<i>Mytilus galloprovincialis</i>): Understanding Pollution in Italian Seas |
| title_fullStr | Microplastics in Mussels (<i>Mytilus galloprovincialis</i>): Understanding Pollution in Italian Seas |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microplastics in Mussels (<i>Mytilus galloprovincialis</i>): Understanding Pollution in Italian Seas |
| title_short | Microplastics in Mussels (<i>Mytilus galloprovincialis</i>): Understanding Pollution in Italian Seas |
| title_sort | microplastics in mussels i mytilus galloprovincialis i understanding pollution in italian seas |
| topic | microplastics <i>Mytilus galloprovincialis</i> environmental risk human health Raman spectroscopy marine pollution |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/3/144 |
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