Bivalve Mollusks as Biological Monitoring of Microplastic: A Review of Anadara antiquata and Gafrarium sp. in Indonesia

Existence of plastic waste has continued an increase in the environment. Plastic breaks into particles in the size range of 1-5000 µm called microplastics. Small plastic particles accumulate in aquatic biota, one of which is bivalves. Bivalves are used as sentinel organisms and bioindicators of marine pollution, as they can accumulate microplastics carried by seawater. In this context, two filter-feeding bivalve species are Gafrarium sp. and Anadara antiquata. The abundance of microplastics in A. antiquata and Gafrarium sp. in Indonesian coastal waters indicates that almost all bivalve species are contaminated with microplastics. The types of microplastics frequently found in A. antiquata and Gafrarium sp. are fibers, fragments, films, and pellets. The smaller the average size of microplastics, the more they can enter the aquatic food chain. Thus, the presence of plastic pollutants in seafood consumed by humans can pose a food safety risk. If microplastic particles enter the body continuously and accumulate in certain amounts and reach the maximum limit the body can tolerate, it will cause poisoning, tissue damage, disruption of vital organs, and cause death.