This study investigated microplastic pollution in the large mud snail Terebralia palustris (Linnaeus, 1767) (Gastropoda: Potamididae) inhabiting the Avicennia marina mangrove ecosystems along the Sea of Oman. A modified digestion protocol, combining two methods, was employed to improve the detection of microplastics within the snail tissue. Results indicated that 50 % of the examined snails contained microplastics, with significant variability observed among different lagoons. Snails from the polluted Shinas lagoon exhibited higher levels of microplastics compared to those from the lowest polluted Al-Qurum Natural Reserve (MPA). The most prevalent type of microplastic in snail tissues was fibers, making up 75.7 % of the total. Fragments constituted about 24.2 %. Using portable Raman spectrometry, Polyurethane (PU) was identified as the predominant polymer, accounting for 50 % of the total. This was followed by Acrylic and Polyethylene, each representing 18.75 %, and Polyethylene Vynil Acetate (PEVA) at 12.50 %. Overall, it is clear that while snails do reflect the presence of microplastics (MPs) in their environment, their physical attributes do not strongly correlate with the levels or types of MPs they contain. Additionally, the significant difference between the abundance of MPs in sediment and in snails illustrates that, while snails may serve as general indicators of microplastic pollution, they may not be reliable as precise bioindicators or sentinel species for quantifying the extent of this pollution. Further studies are needed to explore other potential bioindicators in mangrove habitats.

中文翻译：

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使用大型泥螺 （Terebralia palustris） 评估阿曼红树林栖息地的微塑料污染


本研究调查了栖息在阿曼海沿岸 Avicennia marina 红树林生态系统中的大型泥螺 Terebralia palustris （Linnaeus， 1767） （腹足纲：Potamididae） 中的微塑料污染。采用结合两种方法的改良消化方案来提高蜗牛组织内微塑料的检测。结果表明，50% 的被检查蜗牛含有微塑料，在不同泻湖之间观察到显着差异。与来自污染最低的 Al-Qurum 自然保护区 （MPA） 的蜗牛相比，来自受污染的 Shinas 泻湖的蜗牛表现出更高水平的微塑料。蜗牛组织中最普遍的微塑料类型是纤维，占总数的 75.7%。片段约占 24.2%。使用便携式拉曼光谱法，聚氨酯 （PU） 被确定为主要聚合物，占总聚合物的 50%。其次是丙烯酸和聚乙烯，各占 18.75%，聚乙酸乙烯酯 （PEVA） 占 12.50%。总体而言，很明显，虽然蜗牛确实反映了环境中存在微塑料 （MP），但它们的物理属性与它们所含的微塑料的水平或类型没有很强的相关性。此外，沉积物和蜗牛中 MP 丰度之间的显著差异表明，虽然蜗牛可以作为微塑料污染的一般指标，但它们作为量化这种污染程度的精确生物指标或哨兵物种可能并不可靠。需要进一步的研究来探索红树林栖息地中的其他潜在生物指标。