Microplastics in Mussels, Oysters and Scallops
Scientific India|March - April 2021
Generally, everyone is well aware of plastics and its disadvantages. Plastics are not biodegradable as natural leaves or natural materials.
Monikandon Sukumaran*, Kesavan Devarayan and Ramar Marimuthu
Microplastics in Mussels, Oysters and Scallops

These plastics break into small pieces of size with less than 5 mm and they are known as microplastics. By origin microplastics are classified in to primary and secondary. Plastic products, household uses of variety of plastics, construction materials and industrial applications are the primary sources. Secondary sources are those which are formed by fragmentation of these plastics which are discarded in to the environment.

Marine and Microplastics

The major source of microplastics in the marine environment is due to the discarding of the plastic wastes in to sea. Once plastics find their way in to the waterbodies or oceans it ends in to microplastic and interacts with food chain of the marine fishes, crustaceans, bivalves and mammals. Microplastics are found globally in the marine environment and the marine environment is affected by the quantity of microplastics they receive. Marine plastics present in the marine environment time have occupied all the compartments of the marine ecosystem and the food web. These microplastic pollutants are found across the different trophic levels of the marine ecosystem. It includes from the bottom of the marine food to the top level of the trophic level.

Microplastics and Human health risks

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM SCIENTIFIC INDIAView all
An insight into Chandipura virus in India
Scientific India

An insight into Chandipura virus in India

Recently lot of news regarding disease due to Chandipura virus has emerged in various newspapers/magazines. After reading the reports published it seems that thing is still brewing in the natures nest and it could affect mankind.

time-read
3 mins  |
September - October 2024
Why elephants never forget?
Scientific India

Why elephants never forget?

An elephant has a very large brain for its size and the 'temporal lobe' region responsible for memory is more developed with a greater number of folds - this results in powerful abilities to 'download' important survival data such as where to find food and water, and who is friend or foe.

time-read
1 min  |
September - October 2024
Use of Algae for Wastewater Treatment Containing Heavy Metals
Scientific India

Use of Algae for Wastewater Treatment Containing Heavy Metals

Wastewater treatment is a critical environmental issue particularly when it comes to the removal of heavy metals.

time-read
3 mins  |
September - October 2024
Nano priming Seeds: A Small Innovation Sparkling Big Advances in Germination
Scientific India

Nano priming Seeds: A Small Innovation Sparkling Big Advances in Germination

Nanopriming is an emerging agricultural technique where the seeds are treated with nanoparticles to improve their germination, growth, and overall performance.

time-read
4 mins  |
September - October 2024
Nobel Laureates in Physics 2024: Revolutionizing AlThe Physics Foundations Behind Machine Learning
Scientific India

Nobel Laureates in Physics 2024: Revolutionizing AlThe Physics Foundations Behind Machine Learning

This year's two Nobel Laureates in Physics have used tools from physics to develop methods that are the foundation of today's powerful machine learning.

time-read
2 mins  |
September - October 2024
Revolutionizing Biology: The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Celebrates Breakthroughs in Protein Design and Structure Prediction
Scientific India

Revolutionizing Biology: The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Celebrates Breakthroughs in Protein Design and Structure Prediction

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024 is about proteins, life's ingenious chemical tools.

time-read
2 mins  |
September - October 2024
New findings on animal viruses with potential to infect humans
Scientific India

New findings on animal viruses with potential to infect humans

Scientists investigating animal viruses with potential to infect humans have identified a critical protein that could enable spillover of a family of organisms called arteriviruses.

time-read
2 mins  |
September - October 2024
Father-Daughter Team Decodes Mars' Alien Signal
Scientific India

Father-Daughter Team Decodes Mars' Alien Signal

There is no definitive answer to whether aliens exist, but there is a lot of work being done to find out:

time-read
2 mins  |
September - October 2024
Krishi Vigyan Kendras: Working for Farmer's Welfare
Scientific India

Krishi Vigyan Kendras: Working for Farmer's Welfare

Krishi Vigyan Kendras (Farm Science Centres) are the District level institution serving as an agriculture knowledge resource & capacity development centre which plays indispensable role in front line extension regarding agriculture system in scientific way.

time-read
4 mins  |
July-August 2024
Sixth generation Computer: The future computing technology
Scientific India

Sixth generation Computer: The future computing technology

We are in a transition towards a digital world, where everything will be dealt with in digital format.

time-read
4 mins  |
July-August 2024