Occurrence of microplastics in farmed and wild snails along the coasts of Thailand: Implications for consumer exposure and health risks

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) pollution has become a critical global issue due to its harmful effects on the environment and public health. This study investigates the abundance of MPs in commercial spotted babylon snails ( Babylonia areolata ) from farmed and wild populations along the coasts of Thailand, evaluates daily MP exposure for consumers, assesses potential health risks, and explores strategies to mitigate MP exposure and associated human health risks. MP occurrence ranged from 55 % to 99 % in both farmed and wild B. areolata , with an average abundance of 1.17 ± 1.02 items/individual and 2.64 ± 2.17 items/individual, respectively. Wild B. areolata exhibited significantly higher MP levels than their farmed counterparts, but MP abundance in wild snails decreased by approximately 70 % following a 72-h depuration period. The most common MPs (<1000 μm) were small black and blue fibers, primarily composed of polyethylene terephthalate and polyester. The estimated daily MP exposure for B. areolata consumers was 0.005 items/person/day with a minimal health risk after the clearance experiment. As a mitigation strategy, we recommend acclimating B. areolata in MPs-free water systems for 2–3 days to reduce MP-related health risks.