Environmental Plastic Pollution Research Articles

Experimental Study of Manufacturing of Precast Paver Blocks from Local Municipal Solid Waste

The project aims to revolutionize paving block production by utilizing plastic waste instead of cement, potentially reducing costs compared to traditional concrete blocks. In India, where millions of tons of plastic waste are generated annually, finding ways to repurpose this waste into paving blocks could significantly decrease environmental plastic pollution. Our experimentation involved mixing plastic waste with quarry dust, coarse aggregate, and other materials to create the paving blocks. Through testing and analysis, we assessed the effectiveness of these blocks. Ultimately, our goal is to offer a practical solution to both mitigate plastic waste and make paving blocks more economically accessible. Plastic waste poses significant environmental challenges due to its non-biodegradable nature, causing pollution and harm to ecosystems. Despite efforts in plastic recycling, much of it still ends up in landfills or incinerators due to quality concerns with recycled materials. Similarly, construction and demolition waste (C&D Waste) contribute to landfill overflow, but it also holds potential for manufacturing precast paver blocks. It can even replace a portion of aggregates in concrete without compromising its strength. By exploring these avenues, we strive to address both plastic and construction waste issues while offering sustainable solutions in paving block production

Reducing Environmental Plastic Pollution by Designing Polymer Materials for Managed End‐of‐Life

AbstractPlastics are widely used synthetic materials in various industries worldwide. The abundance of plastics, which are mainly carbon‐based polymers, has led to a significant accumulation of plastic waste in landfills and the environment due to their durability and affordability. Although plastic pollution of the oceans has been known for many years, there is still limited knowledge about the composition, distribution, impact, and fate of plastic waste in the environment.In this review, the focus is on environmental pollution by plastics, highlighting the source (feedstock) and degradation behavior of these materials. The goal is to provide insights for material design strategies that address the management of plastic waste at the end of its life cycle. The authors argue that the development of materials labeled marine biodegradable or universally biodegradable is not a sufficient solution on its own to address plastic pollution. Instead, it is critical to incorporate practical plans for recovery and treatment into material and product design principles. These plans should be based on existing systems or possibly developed in parallel.In summary, this article highlights the widespread pollution of the environment by plastics and emphasizes the need for comprehensive material design strategies that include not only biodegradability but also practical recovery and treatment methods. By considering the entire lifecycle of plastics, we can work to reduce the harmful impact of plastic waste on our planet.

Exposure to microplastics and human reproductive outcomes: A systematic review.

Microplastics, produced through degradation of environmental plastic pollution, have been detected in human tissues including placenta and fetal meconium. Cell culture and animal studies have demonstrated potential reproductive toxicity of these particles; however, their association with adverse fertility or pregnancy outcomes in humans is not known. To synthesise evidence for the presence of microplastics in human reproductive tissue and their associations with environmental exposures and reproductive outcomes. MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.gov and ICTRP were searched from inception to 03/02/2023. Studies of human participants, assessing presence of microplastics in reproductive tissues, environmental exposures to microplastics, and fertility- or pregnancy-related outcomes. Two independent reviewers selected studies and extracted data on study characteristics, microplastics detected, environmental exposures and reproductive outcomes. Narrative synthesis was performed due to methodological heterogeneity. Of 1094 citations, seven studies were included, covering 96 participants. Microplastics composed of 16 different polymer types were detected in both placental and meconium samples. Two studies reported associations between lifestyle factors (daily water intake, use of scrub cleanser or toothpaste, bottled water and takeaway food) and placental microplastics. One study reported associations between meconium microplastics and reduced microbiota diversity. One reported placental microplastic levels correlated with reduced birthweights and 1-minute Apgar scores. There is a need for high-quality observational studies to assess the effects of microplastics on human reproductive health.

Strategies for biofilm optimization of plastic-degrading microorganisms and isolating biofilm formers from plastic-contaminated environments

Abstract The perpetual disposal of plastic waste, combined with ineffective waste management strategies, has resulted in widespread environmental plastic pollution. Microbial plastic biodegradation represents an emerging solution to this problem. However, biodegradation studies tend to overlook the fundamental prerequisite of initial surface colonization via biofilm formation. This study had two independent but connected aims relating to plastic surface colonization by microorganisms: to enhance biofilm formation by known plastic degraders, with translational potential for improved plastic degradation, and to isolate microorganisms from microplastic contaminated environments with the ability to colonize plastic surfaces. Planktonic and biofilm responses to diverse carbon and energy sources were investigated over 7 days, using Bacillus subtilis 168, Fusarium solani (Martius) Saccardo, Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6, Pseudomonas putida KT2440, and Rhodococcus ruber C208. This enabled optimal conditions for biofilm formation by each strain to be determined. In parallel, environmental samples containing synthetic or natural polymeric substances (anaerobic digestate, landfill leachate, and microplastic contaminated compost) were incubated with polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate films, to isolate microorganisms capable of colonizing their surfaces. This yielded eight bacterial isolates from three genera: Bacillus, Lysinibacillus, and Proteus. These genera contain species that have been shown to degrade plastics and other recalcitrant synthetic polymers, demonstrating the success of our approach. This study also suggests that discrete plastic types may create different ecological niches which can be exploited by unique bacterial colonizers. Our findings underscore the importance of considering plastic colonization by microbial biofilms in the context of their biodegradation.

Material-specific binding peptides empower sustainable innovations in plant health, biocatalysis, medicine and microplastic quantification.

Material-binding peptides (MBPs) have emerged as a diverse and innovation-enabling class of peptides in applications such as plant-/human health, immobilization of catalysts, bioactive coatings, accelerated polymer degradation and analytics for micro-/nanoplastics quantification. Progress has been fuelled by recent advancements in protein engineering methodologies and advances in computational and analytical methodologies, which allow the design of, for instance, material-specific MBPs with fine-tuned binding strength for numerous demands in material science applications. A genetic or chemical conjugation of second (biological, chemical or physical property-changing) functionality to MBPs empowers the design of advanced (hybrid) materials, bioactive coatings and analytical tools. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview comprising naturally occurring MBPs and their function in nature, binding properties of short man-made MBPs (<20 amino acids) mainly obtained from phage-display libraries, and medium-sized binding peptides (20-100 amino acids) that have been reported to bind to metals, polymers or other industrially produced materials. The goal of this review is to provide an in-depth understanding of molecular interactions between materials and material-specific binding peptides, and thereby empower the use of MBPs in material science applications. Protein engineering methodologies and selected examples to tailor MBPs toward applications in agriculture with a focus on plant health, biocatalysis, medicine and environmental monitoring serve as examples of the transformative power of MBPs for various industrial applications. An emphasis will be given to MBPs' role in detecting and quantifying microplastics in high throughput, distinguishing microplastics from other environmental particles, and thereby assisting to close an analytical gap in food safety and monitoring of environmental plastic pollution. In essence, this review aims to provide an overview among researchers from diverse disciplines in respect to material-(specific) binding of MBPs, protein engineering methodologies to tailor their properties to application demands, re-engineering for material science applications using MBPs, and thereby inspire researchers to employ MBPs in their research.

The impact of floods on plastic pollution

Abstract Non-Technical Summary Plastic harms ecosystem health and human livelihood on land, in rivers, and in the sea. To prevent and reduce plastic pollution, we must know how plastics move through the environment. Extreme events, such as floods, bring large amounts of plastic into rivers around the world. This article summarizes how different flood types (excessive rainfall, high river flow, or floods from the sea) flush or deposit plastic pollution, and how this impacts the environment. Furthermore, this paper also discusses how improved resilience to floods is important to prevent and reduce plastic pollution. Technical Summary Plastic pollution is ubiquitous in the environment and threatens terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. Reducing plastic pollution requires a thorough understanding of its sources, sinks, abundance, and impact. The transport and retention dynamics of plastics are however complex, and assumed to be driven by natural factors, anthropogenic factors, and plastic item characteristics. Current literature shows diverging correlations between river discharge, wind speed, rainfall, and plastic transport. However, floods have been consistently demonstrated to impact plastic transport and dispersal. This paper presents a synthesis of the impact of floods on plastic pollution in the environment. For each specific flood type (fluvial, pluvial, coastal, and flash floods), we identified the driving transport mechanisms from the available literature. This paper introduces the plastic-flood nexus concept, which is the negative feedback loop between floods (mobilizing plastics), and plastic pollution (increasing flood risk through blockages). Moreover, the impact of flood-driven plastic transport was assessed, and it was argued that increasing flood resilience also reduces the impact of floods on plastic pollution. This paper provides a perspective on the importance of floods on global plastic pollution. Increasing flood resilience and breaking the plastic-flood nexus are crucial steps toward reducing environmental plastic pollution. Social Media Summary Floods have a large impact on plastic pollution transport, which can be reduced through improved flood resilience

Small micro- and nanoplastic test and reference materials for research: Current status and future needs

Abstract Environmental plastic pollution comprises partially degraded particles representing a continuum of sizes, shapes, polymer types and chemical compositions. Owing to their potential for biological uptake, small microplastic particles (sMP; &lt;100 μm) and nanoplastics (NPs) are considered to be a potential risk to organisms. Understanding how sMPs and NPs behave in the environment, and how environmental matrices affect their detection, is fundamental to quantifying exposures, assessing hazards and understanding these risks. For this purpose, high-quality, well-characterised and environmentally relevant test and reference materials are crucial. The current lack of environmentally relevant sMP and NP reference materials has resulted in many studies applying commercially available spherical, homogenous and monodisperse particles, typically produced for specific purposes and without environmental relevance. There is a need for sMP and NP test/reference materials for fate and effects assessments and analytical protocol validation that more accurately represent the sMP and NP present in the environment. To date, feasible methods for producing relevant sMP and NP test materials in sufficient quantities for environmental fate and effects studies remain lacking. The current review provides an overview and comparison of the available methods, highlighting those that show the most promise for producing environmentally relevant sMP and NP with further development and optimisation.

Polyurethane-Degrading Potential of Alkaline Groundwater Bacteria.

Plastic waste is a global environmental burden and long-lasting plastic polymers, including ubiquitous and toxic polyurethanes (PUs), rapidly accumulate in the water environments. In this study, samples were collected from the three alkaline groundwater occurrences in the geotectonic regions of the Pannonian basin of northern Serbia (Torda and Slankamen Banja) and Inner Dinarides of western Serbia (Mokra Gora) with aim to isolate and identify bacteria with plastic- and lignocellulose-degrading potential, that could be applied to reduce the burden of environmental plastic pollution. The investigated occurrences belong to cold, mildly alkaline (pH: 7.6-7.9) brackish and hyperalkaline (pH: 11.5) fresh groundwaters of the SO4 - Na + K, Cl - Na + K and OH, Cl - Ca, Na + K genetic type. Full-length 16S rDNA sequencing, using Oxford Nanopore sequencing device, was performed with DNA extracted from colonies obtained by cultivation of all groundwater samples, as well as with DNA extracted directly from one groundwater sample. The most abundant genera belong to Pseudomonas, Acidovorax, Kocuria and Methylotenera. All screened isolates (100%) had the ability to grow on at least 3 of the tested plastic and lignocellulosic substrates, with 53.9% isolates degrading plastic substrate Impranil® DLN-SD (SD), a model compound for PUs degradation. Isolates degrading SD that were identified by partial 16S rDNA sequencing belong to the Stenotrophomonas, Pseudomonas, Paraburkholderia, Aeromonas, Vibrio and Acidovorax genera. Taking into account that plastics, including commonly produced PUs, are widespread in groundwater, identification of PUs-degrading bacteria may have potential applications in bioremediation of groundwater polluted with this polymer.

From pollution to solutions: Insights into the sources, transport and management of plastic debris in pristine and urban rivers

River systems are important recipients of environmental plastic pollution and have become key pathways for the transfer of mismanaged waste from the land to the ocean. Understanding the sources and fate of plastic debris, including plastic litter (>5 mm) and microplastics (MPs) (<5 mm), entering different riverine systems is essential to mitigate the ongoing environmental plastic pollution crisis. We comprehensively investigated the plastic pollution in the catchments of two rivers in the Yangtze River basin: an urban river, the Suzhou section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal (SZ); and a pristine rural river, the Jingmen section of the Hanjiang River (JM). The abundance of plastic pollutants in SZ was significantly higher than in JM: 0.430 ± 0.450 items/m3 and 0.003 ± 0.003 items/m3 of plastic litter in the water; 23.47 ± 25.53 n/m3 and 2.78 ± 1.55 n/m3 MPs in the water; and 218.82 ± 77.40 items/kg and 5.30 ± 1.99 items/kg of MPs in the sediment, respectively. Plastic litter and MPs were closely correlated in abundance and polymer composition. Overall, the polymer type, shape and color of MPs were dominant by polypropylene (42.5%), fragment (60.4%) and transparent (40.0%), respectively. Source tracing analysis revealed that packaging, shipping, and wastewater were the primary sources of plastic pollutants. The mantel analysis indicated that socio-economic and geospatial factors play crucial roles in driving the hotspot formation of plastic pollution in river networks. The composition of the MP communities differed significantly between the sediments and the overlying water. The urban riverbed sediments had a more pronounced pollutant ‘sink’ effect compared with the pristine rivers. These findings suggested that the modification of natural streams during urbanization may influence the transport and fate of plastic pollutants in them. Our results offer pivotal insights into effective preventive measures.

Utilization of disposable face masks for cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom as a strategy for reducing environmental plastic pollution

Utilization of disposable face masks for cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom as a strategy for reducing environmental plastic pollution

Plants forage for soil patches free of plastic pollution but cannot bag the profits

Microplastics can affect their surroundings physically and chemically, resulting in diverse effects on plant-soil systems. Similar to other substances (e.g. nutrients and water), microplastics in the environment occur in patches. Such heterogeneous distributions could affect plant responses to plastic pollution. Yet, this has remained untested. We conducted a multispecies experiment including 29 herbaceous plant species and three different microplastic treatments (a control without microplastics, a homogeneous and a heterogeneous microplastic distribution). Based on biomass and root-morphological traits, we assessed how different plastic distributions affect the performance and root-foraging behavior of plants, and whether stronger root foraging is beneficial when microplastics are distributed patchily. Next to general effects on plant productivity and root morphology, we found very strong evidence for root-foraging responses to patchy plastic distributions, with a clear preference for plastic-free patches, resulting in 25% longer roots and 20% more root biomass in the plastic-free patches. Interestingly, however, these foraging responses were correlated with a reduced plant performance, indicating that the benefits of plastic avoidance did not compensate for the associated investments. Our results provide new insights in plant-microplastic interactions and suggest that plants might not just be passively affected by but could also actively respond to environmental plastic pollution.

Synthesis and characterization of biodegradable and photocrosslinkable multi‐block poly(ether‐ester): Molecular‐weight and component of the polyethylene glycol segment dependence

AbstractThis work synthesized a series of biodegradable thermoplastic elastomer PBSFG via an esterification polycondensation reaction. The influence of the soft segment PEG molecular weight and component on the thermal behavior, mechanical property, and degradation performance of PBSFG were investigated. The results showed that the PEG component plays a major part in the properties of PBSFG. Upon reaching a PEG component concentration of 40% within PBSFG, the yielding phenomenon becomes imperceptible on the stress–strain curves, signifying the onset of a plastic‐to‐elastomer transition. In the case of PBSFG40‐6k, a remarkable tensile strength of 23.5 MPa and an elongation at break measuring 576% were achieved, thereby displaying tensile properties on par with those of PBAT. Thanks to the unsaturated structure, the mechanical properties of PBSFG can be enhanced by UV irradiation. Finally, Candida cylindracea lipase catalytic degradation experiments showed that PBSFG is a biodegradable polyester, which is beneficial in reducing environmental plastic pollution.

Temporal trends in microplastic accumulation in placentas from pregnancies in Hawaiʻi

Microplastics are created for commercial use, are shed from textiles, or result from the breakdown of larger plastic items. Recent reports have shown that microplastics accumulate in human tissues and may have adverse health consequences. Currently, there are no standardized environmental monitoring systems to track microplastic accumulation within human tissues. Using Raman spectroscopy, we investigated the temporal exposures to plastic pollution in Hawaiʻi and noted a significant increase in the accumulation of microplastics in discarded placentas over the past 15 years, with changes in the size and chemical composition of the polymers. These findings provide a rare insight into the vulnerability and sensitivity of Pacific Island residents to plastic pollution and illustrate how discarded human tissues can be used as an innovative environmental plastic pollution monitoring system.

Toxigenic Vibrio cholerae can cycle between environmental plastic waste and floodwater: Implications for environmental management of cholera

Globally, there has been a significant rise in cholera cases and deaths, with an increase in the number of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) reporting outbreaks. In parallel, plastic pollution in LMICs is increasing, and has become a major constituent of urban dump sites. The surfaces of environmental plastic pollution can provide a habitat for complex microbial biofilm communities; this so-called 'plastisphere' can also include human pathogens. Under conditions simulating a peri-urban environmental waste pile, we determine whether toxigenic Vibrio cholerae (O1 classical; O1 El Tor; O139) can colonise and persist on plastic following a simulated flooding event. Toxigenic V. cholerae colonized and persisted on plastic and organic waste for at least 14 days before subsequent transfer to either fresh or brackish floodwater, where they can further persist at concentrations sufficient to cause human infection. Taken together, this study suggests that plastics in the environment can act as significant reservoirs for V. cholerae, whilst subsequent transfer to floodwaters demonstrates the potential for the wider dissemination of cholera. Further understanding of how diseases interact with plastic waste will be central for combating infection, educating communities, and diminishing the public health risk of plastics in the environment.

Enduring pathogenicity of African strains of Salmonella on plastics and glass in simulated peri-urban environmental waste piles

In low- and middle-income countries, plastic has become a major constituent of landfills and urban dump sites. Environmental plastic pollution can also provide a novel surface for the formation of microbial biofilm, which often includes pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Here, under conditions simulating a peri-urban waste pile typical of an African informal settlement, we aimed to determine if pathogenic Salmonella spp. can retain their virulence following a prolonged period of desiccation on the surfaces of environmental plastic and glass. We show that clinically (and environmentally) relevant strains of Salmonella including S. Enteritidis, S. Typhimurium and S. Typhi can persist on plastic and glass for at least 28-days and that temperature (which increases with the depth of an urban waste pile) is a key determinant of this survival. All three strains of Salmonella retained their pathogenicity (determined by using a Galleria mellonella model of infection) following their recovery from the plastisphere indicating that plastics in the environment can act as reservoirs for human pathogens and could facilitate their persistence for extended periods of time. Pathogens colonising environmental plastic waste therefore pose a heightened public health risk, particularly in areas where people are frequently exposed to plastic pollution.

Effects of phthalate and bisphenol plasticizers on the activity of glycolytic enzymes of the moth Spodoptera littoralis

Environmental plastic pollution has significantly increased in the recent decades, and severely impacts economies, human and biodiversity health. Plastics are made of several chemical additives, including bisphenol and phthalate plasticizers such as bisphenol A (BPA) and Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP). In some animal species, both BPA and DEHP are known as endocrine disruptor compounds, and can alter physiological and metabolic homeostasis, reproduction, development and/or behavior. To date, the impacts of BPA and DEHP have mainly focused on vertebrates, and to a lesser extent, on aquatic invertebrates. Yet, the few studies which examined the effects of DEHP on terrestrial insects also revealed the impacts this pollutant can have on development, hormone titrations, and metabolic profiles. In particular, it has been hypothesized in the Egyptian cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis that the observed metabolic alterations could result from the energetic costs necessary for DEHP detoxification or to the dysregulation of hormonally-controlled enzymatic activities. To get additional insights into the physiological effects of bisphenol and phthalate plasticizers on the moth S. littoralis, larvae were fed with food contaminated by BPA, DEHP, or the mixture of both compounds. Then, activities of four glycolytic enzymes, hexokinase, phosphoglucose isomerase, phosphofructokinase, and pyruvate kinase were measured. BPA and/or DEHP had no effects on the activities of phosphofructokinase and pyruvate kinase. Conversely, BPA-contaminated larvae were characterized by a 1.9-fold increase in phosphoglucose isomerase activity, and BPA + DEHP-fed larvae had highly variable hexokinase activity. Overall, since no disruption of glycolytic enzyme was observed in DEHP-contaminated larvae, our work tended to demonstrate that exposure to bisphenol and DEHP increased the amount of oxidative stress experienced.

Preface to the special issue: biotechnology of plastic waste degradation and valorization

Synthetic plastics have been widely used in various fields of the national economy and are the pillar industry. However, irregular production, plastic product use, and plastic waste piling have caused long-term accumulation in the environment, contributing considerably to the global solid waste stream and environmental plastic pollution, which has become a global problem to be solved. Biodegradation has recently emerged as a viable disposal method for a circular plastic economy and has become a thriving research area. In recent years, important breakthroughs have been made in the screening, isolation, and identification of plastic-degrading microorganisms/enzyme resources and their further engineering, which provide new ideas and solutions for treating microplastics in the environment and the closed-loop bio-recycling of waste plastics. On the other hand, the use of microorganisms (pure cultures or consortia) to further transform different plastic degradants into biodegradable plastics and other compounds with high added value is of great significance, promoting the development of a plastic recycling economy and reducing the carbon emission of plastics in their life cycle. We edited a Special Issue on the topic of "Biotechnology of Plastic Waste Degradation and Valorization", focusing on the researches progress in three aspects: Mining microbial and enzyme resources for plastic biodegradation, Design and engineering of plastic depolymerase, and biological high-value transformation of plastic degradants. In total, 16 papers have been collected in this issue including reviews, comments, and research articles, which provide reference and guidance for further development of plastic waste degradation and valorization biotechnology.

Oligomer nanoparticle release from polylactic acid plastics catalysed by gut enzymes triggers acute inflammation.

The health risks of exposure to 'eco-friendly' biodegradable plastics of anthropogenic origin and their effects on the gastrointestinal tract are largely unknown. Here we demonstrate that the enzymatic hydrolysis of polylactic acid microplastics generated nanoplastic particles by competing for triglyceride-degrading lipase during gastrointestinal processes. Nanoparticle oligomers were formed by hydrophobically driven self-aggregation. In a mouse model, polylactic acid oligomers and their nanoparticles bioaccumulated in the liver, intestine and brain. Hydrolysed oligomers caused intestinal damage and acute inflammation. A large-scale pharmacophore model revealed that oligomers interacted with matrix metallopeptidase 12. Mechanistically, high binding affinity (Kd = 13.3 μmol l-1) of oligomers to the catalytic zinc-ion finger domain led to matrix metallopeptidase 12 inactivation, which might mediate the adverse bowel inflammatory effects after exposure to polylactic acid oligomers. Biodegradable plastics are considered to be a solution to address environmental plastic pollution. Thus, understanding the gastrointestinal fates and toxicities of bioplastics will provide insights into potential health risks.

Awe and guilt: Desirability and feasibility appeals in social media green campaigns

AbstractAs the world has become increasingly concerned about environmental plastic pollution, private and public sectors remain devoted to creating effective green marketing campaigns on social media platforms. Drawing upon construal level theory and appraisal tendency theory, this research examines the interaction effect of green ad appeals and two distinct emotions—awe and guilt—on consumers' social media engagement and pro‐environmental intentions. The findings from two experimental studies demonstrate that when individuals experience awe, desirability (vs. feasibility) message appeals generate stronger engagement in social media green campaigns. In contrast, it was found that when individuals experience guilt, feasibility (vs. desirability) message appeals enhance social media engagement and pro‐environmental behaviors more effectively. This research offers novel theoretical contributions to the existing body of literature and provides practical insights by suggesting that awe and guilt act as moderators leading to greater consumer responses when used with matching social media messages promoting green campaigns.

Uptake of Microplastics in the Wedge Clam Donax trunculus: First Evidence from the Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is affected by microplastic contamination, and several methods have been developed to investigate the degree of environmental plastic pollution. Among these, the use of bioindicators is strongly suggested, and in particular bivalves are sensitive sentinel organisms of the level of microplastic contamination. The wedge clams Donax trunculus is an important edible species for the Mediterranean, area but only rudimentary knowledge is available about microplastic contamination in this species, and no data are available about this topic in the Mediterranean Sea. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to investigate the microplastic accumulation in the wedge clam and in different water samples (seawater and purged water) in the Tyrrhenian Coast from September to June. The microplastics found were characterized by color, shape, and polymer type through micro-FTIR. For the first time, the microplastic contamination in wedge clams of the Mediterranean Sea was recorded. In September was recorded the highest concentration of microplastics in wedge clams (0.56 MPs/individual). Only microfiber shapes of different colors and types of polymers were found in both wedge clams and water samples. Polyethylene terephthalate was the most common polymer in wedge clams, while a diversified composition was found in water samples. The most common size both in wedge clams (42.8%) and water samples (≥50%) was in the range 0.1–1 mm. Our results highlight the presence of microplastics in an edible species widely commercialized in the Mediterranean Basin and the possibility of using this species to assess microplastic pollution.