Publication: Can Microplastics Influence the Accumulation of Pb in
Tissues of Blue Crab?
Authors
Munuera, Paula ; Salvat-Leal, Inmaculada ; Belmonte, Antonio ; Romero, Diego
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Publisher
MDPI
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DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18073599
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info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Description
©2021 MDPI. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY- 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
This document is the Published version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. To access the final edited and published work see https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18073599
Abstract
The study of microplastics (MPs) and associated pollutants is essential for a better under standing of some of the factors that threaten marine ecosystems. The main objective of this study
was thus to assess Pb distribution and accumulation in the tissues of blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus)
exposed to MPs. Blue crabs were collected from the mouth of the river Segura (Guardamar, Spain)
and fed on mussels from two Mediterranean areas with different levels of Pb contamination:
Portmán Bay and San Pedro del Pinatar (Murcia, Spain). In addition, a batch of each group were
exposed to MPs. After seven days of exposure, the crabs were euthanised, and tissues and faeces
were analysed. The hepatopancreas was found to be the best tissue for measuring Pb concentrations
after feeding; muscle tissue did not provide information on environmental quality. The meat (mus cle) consumption of blue crabs from zones with high Pb content does not seem to constitute a risk
for consumers, although the risk is not totally negated if all soft tissues are ingested. The presence
of MPs in the water does not seem to increase the accumulation of Pb in these tissues of C. sapidus
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Citation
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18, 3599
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