The study indicates that some bivalve species, including blue mussel, are suitable as indicator species to monitor microplastics in the Nordic marine environment.
An extensive Nordic research project has looked at microplastics in marine bivalves from 100 sites spread throughout much of the Nordic waters. The study showed that microplastics were found in 4 of the 5 bivalve species investigated, and that there was a huge variation in the occurrence and type of microplastics.
This report, just published, «Microplastics in marine bivalves from the Nordic environment», was carried out by the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) on behalf of the Norwegian Environment Agency (Miljødirektoratet), and in cooporation with institutions from all Nordic countries, including Akvaplan-niva from Norway. The project was financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers.
This study is the first of its kind considering the large number of samples from an extensive part of the Nordic waters and the high degree of analytical quality, commented the project manager Norman Green from NIVA.
Continue reading at Norwegian Institute for Water Research
Image via Norwegian Institute for Water Research
