title: A critical view on microplastic quantification in aquatic organisms.
abstract: Microplastics, plastic particles and fragments smaller than 5mm, are ubiquitous in the marine environment. Ingestion and accumulation of microplastics have previously been demonstrated for diverse marine species ranging from zooplankton to bivalves and fish, implying the potential for microplastics to accumulate in the marine food web. In this way, microplastics can potentially impact food safety and human health. Although a few methods to quantify microplastics in biota have been described, no comparison and/or intercalibration of these techniques have been performed. Here we conducted a literature review on all available extraction and quantification methods. Two of these methods, involving wet acid destruction, were used to evaluate the presence of microplastics in field-collected mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from three different "hotspot" locations in Europe (Po estuary, Italy; Tagus estuary, Portugal; Ebro estuary, Spain). An average of 0.18±0.14 total microplastics g(-1) w.w. for the Acid mix Method and 0.12±0.04 total microplastics g(-1) w.w. for the Nitric acid Method was established. Additionally, in a pilot study an average load of 0.13±0.14 total microplastics g(-1) w.w. was recorded in commercial mussels (Mytilus edulis and M. galloprovincialis) from five European countries (France, Italy, Denmark, Spain and The Netherlands). A detailed analysis and comparison of methods indicated the need for further research to develop a standardised operating protocol for microplastic quantification and monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Animal Sciences Unit - Marine Environment and Quality, Ankerstraat 1, 8400 Oostende, Belgium. Electronic address: griet.vandermeersch@ilvo.vlaanderen.be.
authors.forename: Griet
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vandermeersch
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Environmental Toxicology Unit (GhEnToxLab), Jozef Plateaustraat 22, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lisbeth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van Cauwenberghe
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Environmental Toxicology Unit (GhEnToxLab), Jozef Plateaustraat 22, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Colin R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.affiliation: Division of Aquaculture and Upgrading (DivAV), Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), Avenida de Brasília s/n, 1449-006 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.affiliation: Technical University of Denmark, National Food Institute, Mørkhøj Bygade 19, 2860 Søborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kit
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Granby
authors.affiliation: Aeiforia Srl, 29027 Gariga di Podenzano (PC), Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fait
authors.affiliation: Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem Studies (IMARES), Wageningen University and Research Center, Ijmuiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Michiel J J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kotterman
authors.affiliation: Institut de la Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA), Ctra. Poble Nou km 5,5, Sant Carles de la Ràpita E-43540, Spain.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Diogène
authors.affiliation: Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Animal Sciences Unit - Marine Environment and Quality, Ankerstraat 1, 8400 Oostende, Belgium.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bekaert
authors.affiliation: Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Animal Sciences Unit - Marine Environment and Quality, Ankerstraat 1, 8400 Oostende, Belgium.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robbens
authors.affiliation: Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Animal Sciences Unit - Marine Environment and Quality, Ankerstraat 1, 8400 Oostende, Belgium. Electronic address: lisa.devriese@ilvo.vlaanderen.be.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Devriese
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000737:chemistry*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D049878:Mytilus / Q000737:chemistry; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis*; D017747:Seafood / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Contamination; Food safety; Microplastics; Mussel; Seafood