Can Microplastics Influence the Accumulation of Pb in Tissues of Blue Crab?

Paula Munuera, Inmaculada Salvat-Leal, Antonio Belmonte and Diego Romero
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Paula Munuera: Área de Toxicología, Campus de Espinardo, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Inmaculada Salvat-Leal: Área de Toxicología, Campus de Espinardo, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Antonio Belmonte: Taxon Estudios Ambientales, C/Uruguay (Pol I), s/n–Par. 8/27. Nave 31, 30820 Murcia, Spain
Diego Romero: Área de Toxicología, Campus de Espinardo, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 7, 1-11

Abstract: The study of microplastics (MPs) and associated pollutants is essential for a better understanding 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 (muscle) 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 .

Keywords: blue crab; gills; hepatopancreas; lead; meat; microplastics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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