Microplastics in green mussels (Perna viridis) from Jakarta Bay, Indonesia, and the associated hazards to human health posed by their consumption

The Jakarta Bay is the estuary for thirteen rivers that flow through densely populated and industrialized upstream regions. This condition has the potential to pollute the Jakarta Bay with microplastics that are transported from the upstream river. Meanwhile, people, particularly fishermen, continue to use Jakarta Bay for fishing and aquaculture. This study examined microplastics (MP) abundance in the whole tissues of green mussels (Perna viridis) grown in Jakarta Bay, Indonesia, and their health risks. MP was identified in all 120 green mussels, with fiber > film > fragment being the most common kinds. The abundance of fiber was 19 items/g of tissue, whereas the abundances of fragments and film were 14.5 items/g and 15 item/g, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy tests on MP from the tissues of green mussels showed that there were 12 different types of MP polymers. The estimated amount of MP that humans consume each year varied from 29,120 MP items/year to 218,400 MP items/year for different age groups. Based on the total mean number of MP found in the tissues of green mussels and the amount of shellfish consumed per person in Indonesia, it was estimated that people ate 775,180 MP through shellfish each year.