This dataset records microplastic (MP) contamination in mussels from the UK (7
stations around England and Wales) collected in November 2022. Data includes
MP load per mussel, recorded per individual and per gram of tissue wet weight.
The dataset is split between six files: fluorescent items only (results per
individual, results per gram, and a file describing each item collected e.g.
clear filament, 100 microns long, polyethylene) and all items including
non-fluorescent items (per individual, per gram, item description).
Microlitter (ML) includes non-plastic items such as rubber and cellulose-based
fibres. Mass was recorded as wet weight. Also included are text files for long
format data used in analysis in R Studio.
CleanAtlantic is an Interreg-funded initiative (2017 - 2023) with consortium
partners from across Europe, including the UK, Ireland, France, Spain and
Portugal. The initiative aimed to protect biodiversity and ecosystem services
in the Atlantic Area by improving capabilities to monitor, prevent and remove
marine litter. The data here originated from work package: Mapping and
modelling of marine litter, action 3: Indicators for ingestion and
entanglement. CleanAtlantic was coordinated by CETMAR (Centro Tecnológico
del Mar) and included 14 core partners and 4 associated partners. Cefas played
a significant role, contributing to multiple work packages and research
outputs. This data was collected for CleanAtlantic to determine whether
mussels were a suitable sentinel species for microplastics in the North
Atlantic. Fluorescent data was compared to mussels from France and Spain.
CleanAtlantic – CleanAtlantic project_
.. _cleanatlantic – cleanatlantic project:
https://www.cleanatlantic.eu/