We deployed caged mussels (Mytilus edulis) in an urbanised estuary (Edinburgh, UK) to assess seasonal changes in plastic pollution, and collected mussels (Mytilus spp and subtidal Modiolus modiolus) from eight sampling stations around Scotland to enumerate MP types at different locations.

MPs were extracted and quantified according to Catarino et al. (2017). Procedural blanks were used in every processing event, and data is also presented.

We quantified to household dust fibres during a meal, using stationary passive samplers.

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Village Bay and Geo stations are both located in St Kilda island and correspond to the entrance of an intertidal cave and a reef, respectively. Isle of Skye samples were collected in Uig. The Lochmaddy station is located in North Uist. All organisms collected from the wild, with the exception of Newhaven and Port Edgar stations, Edinburgh, where MPs were sampled from deployed caged mussels. All samples were Mytilus spp, with the exception of Orkney where only Modiolus modiolus were collected. For the allometric relationship of MPs / g ww and mussels soft tissue ww, see "Low Levels of Microplastics (MP) in Wild Mussels Indicate that MP Ingestion by Humans is Minimal Compared to Exposure via Household Fibres Fallout During a Meal" by Catarino et al. 2018 (Environmental Pollution)

Abbreviations: MPs: other observed microplastics besides fibres, R: Red fibres, T: Transparent fibres, BC: Black fibres, B: Blue fibres, W: White fibres, BR: Brown fibres, G: Green fibres, O: Orange fibres, GY: Grey fibres, P: Purple fibres.