ISSN: 2782-893X
eISSN: 2799-0664
ISSN: 2782- 893X
Oysters have enemies that cannot be seen. Oyster farmers and consumers do not even know of the enemy’s existence without the aid of a microscope. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the accumulation of microplastics in the soft tissue of the Philippine Cupped Oyster (C. iredalei) as well as quantify the density, characterize the isolated microplastics in terms of color, size, and shape, and determine the composition and abundance for each type. Anchored on the concept of environmental health, and the theories of bioaccumulation and biomagnification, this study is concerned on the possible effects of microplastic ingestion by C. iredalei as an organism, and when consumed, its possible deleterious effects on other aquatic organisms and the risks it poses to human health. Findings revealed the presence of microplastics in the soft tissue with 100% frequency of occurrence and a mean density of 11.80 ± 9.69 microplastic particles/oyster. Diversified colors of microplastics were observed with transparent being the most abundant (54.80%). Irregularly shaped microplastics were dominant (56%) followed by thread-like microplastics (41%). The particles recovered varied in size with smaller particles being overwhelmingly frequent (91.31%) while larger particles (0.38%) were less frequent. Microplastic particles with a size range of 1.10 to 30.31 µm (68.36%) were most abundant. Isolated particles were mostly composed of fragments (54%), microfibers (40%), and a number of films (5%). Primary microplastics such as pellets were rarely found (1%). This investigation recommends water and sediment microplastic analysis to establish a relationship between the presence of microplastics in oysters and its environment. Research on the transport and fate of microplastics in oysters to assess the ecological risks of the negative effects of microplastics in estuarine environments and the exposure risks to human health is also recommended. Furthermore, it is recommended that a study on the extrusion through depuration should be conducted to evaluate whether this process aids in the elimination of microplastics from the soft tissues of oysters. Existing policies/programs/strategies related to plastic pollution and proper waste management for good aquaculture practices may be revisited and be given priority by concerned government agencies for oyster sustainability.