Impact of microplastics on the attachment strength of blue mussels, Mytilus species in different substrates

Key Points

• Decreased attachment strength of blue mussels occurs due to the presence of microplastics in their environment.
• The study shows a significant reduction of 25% in attachment strength on contaminated substrates compared to clean ones.
• Assessment across different substrates highlights how microplastics negatively affect marine mussel populations.
• These findings emphasize the need for addressing microplastic pollution to protect marine ecosystems.