Cited by 1,507Microplastics and Plastic PollutionEnvironmental Toxicology and EcotoxicologyPharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts

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Trophic level transfer of microplastic: Mytilus edulis (L.) to Carcinus maenas (L.)

Farrell, Paul, Nelson, Kathryn·2013·Environmental Pollution

DOI 10.1016/j.envpol.2013.01.046

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Abstract

This study investigated the trophic transfer of microplastic from mussels to crabs. Mussels (Mytilus edulis) were exposed to 0.5 μm fluorescent polystyrene microspheres, then fed to crabs (Carcinus maenas). Tissue samples were then taken at intervals up to 21 days. The number of microspheres in the haemolymph of the crabs was highest at 24 h (15 033 ml(-1) ± SE 3146), and was almost gone after 21 days (267 ml(-1) ± SE 120). The maximum amount of microspheres in the haemolymph was 0.04% of the amount to which the mussels were exposed. Microspheres were also found in the stomach, hepatopancreas, ovary and gills of the crabs, in decreasing numbers over the trial period. This study is the first to show 'natural' trophic transfer of microplastic, and its translocation to haemolymph and tissues of a crab. This has implications for the health of marine organisms, the wider food web and humans.

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Microplastic Exposure by Razor Clam Recreational Harvester-Consumers Along a Sparsely Populated Coastline
Baechler, B. R., Granek, E. F., Mazzone, S., Nielsen‐Pincus, M., & Brander, S. M. (2020) · Frontiers in Marine Science · doi:10.3389/fmars.2020.588481 · Cited by 24
Geomechanical Behaviour of Uncemented Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Beads–Clayey Soil Mixtures as Lightweight Fill
Abbasimaedeh, P., Ghanbari, A., O’Kelly, B. C., Tavanafar, M., & Irdmoosa, K. G. (2021) · Geotechnics · doi:10.3390/geotechnics1010003 · Cited by 24
Assessment of microplastics in discharged treated wastewater and the utility of Chrysaora pentastoma medusae as bioindicators of microplastics
Sucharitakul, P., Pitt, K. A., & Welsh, D. T. (2021) · The Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148076 · Cited by 24
Invertebrate Species for the Bioavailability and Accumulation Assessment of Manufactured Polymer-Based Nano- and Microplastics
Kuehr, S., Esser, D., & Schlechtriem, C. (2022) · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry · doi:10.1002/etc.5315 · Cited by 27
“In the case of 500‐nm fluorescence‐labeled polystyrene microspheres, Farrell and Nelson (2013) were able to show not just that Mytilus edulis could ingest the particles but also that they were transferred to predatory crabs, where the particles were found, for example, also in the hepatopancreas…”
BackgroundResult
Microplastics in Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) spraints and their potential as a biomonitoring tool in freshwater systems
O’Connor, J., Lally, H., Mahon, A. M., O’Connor, I., Nash, R., O’Sullivan, J., Bruen, M., Heerey, L., Koelmans, A. A., Marnell, F., et al. (2022) · Ecosphere · doi:10.1002/ecs2.3955 · Cited by 23
Microplastic ingestion by common terns (Sterna hirundo) and their prey during the non-breeding season.
Carrillo, M. S., Archuby, D., Castresana, G., Lunardelli, M., Montalti, D., & Ibañez, A. (2023) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121627 · Cited by 17
Assessment of microplastic contamination in the Loire River (France) throughout analysis of different biotic and abiotic freshwater matrices
Vidal, A., Phuong, N.-N., Métais, I., Gaspéri, J., & Châtel, A. (2023) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122167 · Cited by 27
“…have been demonstrated to be ingested by a wide variety of aquatic biota, in both marine and freshwater organisms, from microalgae to large mammals (Farrell et al. 2013; Santana et al. 2017; Qu et al. 2020), and consequences are multiple: MP retention in the gut causing blockages, reducing…”
Background
Marine Litter in Nordic waters
Strand, J., Tairova, Z., Danielsen, J., Hansen, J. W., Magnusson, K., Naustvoll, L., & Sørensen, T. K. (2015) · Nordic Council of Ministers eBooks · doi:10.6027/tn2015-521 · Cited by 24
“Other experimental studies have also shown trophic transfer of microplastics e.g. from mussels to crabs (Farrell & Nelson 2013).”
Result
Mikroplastik in aquatischen Ökosystemen
Ivleva, N. P., Wiesheu, A. C., & Nießner, R. (2016) · Angewandte Chemie · doi:10.1002/ange.201606957 · Cited by 25
Microplastic Particles’ Effects on Aquatic Organisms and Their Role as Transporters of Organic Pollutants
Aguirre-Martínez, G. V., Carrizo, M. V., & Zenteno-Devaud, L. (2023) · Water · doi:10.3390/w15162915 · Cited by 24
“The ecological impact of MP has been studied in aquatic ecosystems, indicating adverse effects from these particles among various species, including the zebra fish Danio rerio [29], Scrobicularia plana molluscs [30], Carcinus maenas crabs [31], and Mytilus edulis mussels [31] as well as in the crustacean Daphnia magna…”
Background
Microplastics in aquaculture environments: Sources, pollution status, toxicity and potential as substrates for nitrogen-cycling microbiota
Su, P., Chang, J., Yu, F., Wu, X., & Ji, G. (2024) · Agricultural Water Management · doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2024.109090 · Cited by 23
Comprehending microplastic pollution in diverse environment: Assessing fate, impacts, and remediation approaches
Yadav, P., & Mishra, V. (2024) · International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation · doi:10.1016/j.ibiod.2024.105953 · Cited by 24
Microplastics in animal-derived products and their potential risks to human health
Zeng, H., Cui, Y., Shao, R., Li, T., Zhao, Y., Liu, R., Dai, Z., Liu, Y., Wang, J., Xie, Q., et al. (2025) · TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry · doi:10.1016/j.trac.2025.118187 · Cited by 26
Biochar-based adsorption technologies for microplastic remediation in aquatic ecosystems
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Risk assessments of microplastics accumulated in estuarine sediments at Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, southeast coast of India
Nithin, A., Sundaramanickam, A., Saha, M., Hassanshahian, M., Thangaraj, M., & Rathore, C. (2023) · Environmental Monitoring and Assessment · doi:10.1007/s10661-023-11434-z · Cited by 23
“Minor biotic forms readily consume small-sized MPs (Wright et al., 2013), resulting in MP bioaccumulation in higher forms of organisms, as explained by Farrell and Nelson (2013).”
Background
Bioaccumulation of polystyrene microplastics and changes in antioxidant and AChE pattern in a freshwater snail (Filopaludina bengalensis) from river Ganga
Roy, S., Sarkar, D. J., Chakraborty, N., Mondal, K., & Das, B. K. (2023) · Aquatic Toxicology · doi:10.1016/j.aquatox.2023.106697 · Cited by 24
Marine mussel-based biomarkers as risk indicators to assess oceanic region-specific microplastics impact potential
Chen, C., Lu, T., Yang, Y., & Liao, C. (2020) · Ecological Indicators · doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106915 · Cited by 23
Micro and Macroplastics Analysis in the Digestive Tract of a Sea Cucumber (Holothuriidae, Holothuria floridana) of the Placencia Lagoon, Belize
Coc, C., Rogers, A., Barrientos, E. E., & Sanchez, H. (2021) · Caribbean Journal of Science · doi:10.18475/cjos.v51i2.a2 · Cited by 23
The threat of microplastics and microbial degradation potential; a current perspective
Ullah, Z., Peng, L., Lodhi, A. F., Kakar, M. U., Mehboob, M. Z., & Iqbal, I. (2024) · The Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177045 · Cited by 23
On the diet of the invasive crab Charybdis longicollis Leene, 1938 (Brachyura: Portunidae) in the eastern Mediterranean Sea
Stasolla, G., Innocenti, G., & Galil, B. S. (2015) · Israel Journal of Ecology and Evolution · doi:10.1080/15659801.2015.1123362 · Cited by 22
Brominated Flame Retardants, Microplastics, and Biocides in the Marine Environment: Recent Updates of Occurrence, Analysis, and Impacts
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Microplastics in the Gulf of Mexico: A Bird’s Eye View
Grace, J. K., Duran, E., Ottinger, M. A., Woodrey, M. S., & Maness, T. J. (2022) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su14137849 · Cited by 24
Benthic litter in the continental slope of the Gulf of Naples (central-western Mediterranean Sea) hosts limited fouling communities but facilitates molluscan spawning
Rizzo, L., Minichino, R., Virgili, R., Tanduo, V., Osca, D., Manfredonia, A., Consoli, P., Colloca, F., & Crocetta, F. (2022) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113915 · Cited by 22
Microplastic occurrence in fish species from the Iquitos region in Peru, western Amazonia
Rojas, R. R., ARANGO-MORA, C., NOLORBE-PAYAHUA, C., MEDINA, M., VASQUEZ, M., FLORES, J., MURAYARI, F., VÁSQUEZ, C., de ALMEIDA, V., RAMOS, W., et al. (2023) · Acta Amazonica · doi:10.1590/1809-4392202201212 · Cited by 28
“Predatory fishes can ingest microplastic directly by confusing it with their natural prey and through trophic transference, by ingesting contaminated prey (Farrell and Nelson 2013; Nelms et al .”
Background
Ingestion of microplastics by copepods in Tampa Bay Estuary, FL
Fibbe, M. C., Carroll, D., Gowans, S., & Siuda, A. N. S. (2023) · Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution · doi:10.3389/fevo.2023.1143377 · Cited by 25
“The transfer of microplastics from zooplankton to secondary consumers has been observed in laboratory studies (Farrell and Nelson, 2013; Setälä et al., 2014; Athey et al., 2020; Costa et al., 2020; Van Colen et al., 2020; Domínguez-López et al., 2022; Kim et al., 2022), raising concern that plastics and associated tox…”
Background
Consequences of Microplastics on Global Ecosystem Structure and Function
Wang, Y., Bai, J., Liu, Z., Zhang, L., Zhang, G., Chen, G., Xia, J., Cui, B., & Rillig, M. C. (2023) · Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology · doi:10.1007/s44169-023-00047-9 · Cited by 23
“When crabs were fed mussels containing MPs, the abundance of MPs in the crabs peaked after 24 h of ingestion, but MPs were barely detectable after 21 days (Farrell & Nelson 2013).”
Background
Microplastic accumulation and ecological impacts on benthic invertebrates: Insights from a microcosm experiment
Sfriso, A., Juhmani, A.-S. F. A., Tomio, Y., Sfriso, A., Rizzolio, F., Adeel, M., Wahsha, M. A., Munari, C., & Mistri, M. (2024) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116231 · Cited by 25
Estuarine Ecoclines and the Associated Fauna: Ecological Information as the Basis for Ecosystem Conservation
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Characterization of microplastics in sediments and surface waters of Turkish lakes
Mutlu, T., Ceylan, Y., Baytaşoğlu, H., & Gedik, K. (2025) · Journal of Contaminant Hydrology · doi:10.1016/j.jconhyd.2025.104576 · Cited by 21
Global qualitative and quantitative distribution of micropollutants in the deep sea
Vilela, C. L. S., Damasceno, T. L., Thomas, T., & Peixoto, R. S. (2022) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119414 · Cited by 22
Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) as a technique to detect copper in plastic and microplastic waste
Tognana, S., D’Angelo, C. A., Montecinos, S., Pereyra, M., & Salgueiro, W. (2022) · Chemosphere · doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135168 · Cited by 21
Microplastics in food commodities
Gamarro, E. G., & Constanzo, V. (2022) · FAO eBooks · doi:10.4060/cc2392en · Cited by 38
Characteristics of Microplastic in Commercial Aquatic Organisms
Kristanti, R. A., Wong, W. L., Darmayati, Y., Hatmanti, A., Wulandari, N. F., Sibero, M. T., Afianti, N. F., Hernandes, E., & Lopez-Martinez, F. (2022) · Tropical Aquatic and Soil Pollution · doi:10.53623/tasp.v2i2.134 · Cited by 24

Authors: Farrell, P., & Nelson, K.
Affiliations: University of Portsmouth (GB)
Corresponding author: Farrell, Paul
Venue: Environmental Pollution
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 2013-06
Volume: 177
Pages: 1-3
ISSN: 0269-7491 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2013.01.046
OpenAlex: W2047003156
Cited by: 1,507
References: 20
Citations by year: 2026: 74 · 2025: 117 · 2024: 128 · 2023: 178 · 2022: 188 · 2021: 177 · 2020: 187 · 2019: 134 · 2018: 117 · 2017: 71 · 2016: 66 · 2015: 42 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 10
FWCI: 35.09
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations: Environmental Pollution (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
Keywords: trophic transfer, Mytilus edulis, Carcinus maenas, polystyrene microspheres, hemolymph, tissue distribution, mussels, crabs, food webs, marine pollution
MeSH terms: Animals, Brachyura, Environmental Monitoring, Gills, Hemolymph, Plastics, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Food Chain, Mytilus edulis

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Trophic level transfer of microplastic: Mytilus edulis (L.) to Carcinus maenas (L.)

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