https://www.thuenen.

de/en/fi/projects/plasm-microplastic-and-fish-in-the-sea/
photo by Justin Hofman / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Worldwide Fund for Nature – Australia / https://inhabitat.com/peanut-the-story-behind-the-poor-sea-turtle-deformed-by-a-six-pack-ring/
 University of the East - Manila
College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Natural Sciences

Identification and Quantification of

Microplastics in Philippine Cupped Oyster
(Crassostrea iredalei, Faustino 1932 )

Elsealear De Leon / Gabriel Salva / Danica Kayla Santos / Daniel Segovia /

Raynar Joseph Uybarreta / Steve Obanan
 http://www.wrap.org.uk/content/plasticflow-2025-plastic-packaging-flow-data-report
http://www.packaginginnovation.com/packaging-materials/plastic-packaging-2/advantages-and-disadvantages-plastic-packaging/
http://www.students.cityinstitute.edu.au/201507292/product/t-shirt/
http://www.waterkeeper.ca/blog/2016/9/8/microfibres-the-microplastic-causing-macro-problems-in-global-waters
http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-61615-5_6
 www.soapboxsoaps.com/products/bataua-fruit-reviving-moisture-bar-soap
www.standardmedia.co.ke/evewoman/amp/article/2001262214/8-natural-tootpaste-alternative
www.greneyedgrace.com/healing-bath-salts-make-your-own/
 Quantify the microplastics present in Crassostrea
iredalei
Determine the number, type, and characteristics of
microplastics present in Crassostrea iredalei
Determine the significant relationship between shell
dimension and number of microplastics present

Determine the significant relationship between the total

oyster weight and number of microplastics present

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

Crassostrea iredalei
14°29’17"N 120°54’18"E

SAMPLING SITE
SAMPLING SITE: Canacao Bay
SAMPLING

COLD TRANSPORT

Materials and Methods

Materials and Methods
SAMPLING CLEANING

COLD TRANSPORT

Materials and Methods

Materials and Methods
Materials and Methods
SAMPLING CLEANING

COLD TRANSPORT ACID DIGESTION

Materials and Methods

Materials and Methods
SAMPLING CLEANING INCUBATION

COLD TRANSPORT ACID DIGESTION

Materials and Methods

Materials and Methods
SAMPLING CLEANING INCUBATION QUANTIFICATION

COLD TRANSPORT ACID DIGESTION FILTRATION

Materials and Methods

Materials and Methods
Mean and Range of Shell Dimensions and Oyster weight
LENGTH (mm) WIDTH (mm)

MEAN 62.12 ± 5.42 45.33 ± 5.98

RANGE 52.78 – 77.31 33.28 – 64.17

Whole Weight (g) Meat Weight (g)

MEAN 35.51 ± 8.27 5.59 ± 1.45

RANGE 22.93 – 58.54 3.08 – 9.37

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

 Total Count of Microplastics
 a total of 827 microplastics were observed
 no microbeads and microfoams were seen in the
samples
 fibers are the most common type (817)
10 microfragments were observed

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

19th PSSN Annual Scientific Conference, Palawan State University, July 2-6, 2019
Characteristics of Microplastics Observed
Type of Microplastic Shape Texture Color

string- like/ hair-like,

Fibers soft wide variety, any color
bends
often black or orange
Fragments thin, irregular rigid
to red

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
 Regression Analysis
There are no significant relationships
between
• shell dimension and microplastic
count (p > 0.05)
• oyster whole weight and microplastic
count (p > 0.05)

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

De Leon e. • salva g. • santos d. • Segovia d. Obanan, s. • UYBARRETA R.
 Microplastics are present in the oyster samples
(Crassostrea iredalei)
Two types of microplastics were observed: fibers and
fragments
No significant relationship between length and width, and
number of microplastics

No significant relationship between oyster weight and

number of microplastics

CONCLUSION
 Utilize other acid digestion methods in microplastic
studies
Pursue other microplastic studies on other species that
may pose potential threat to human health

RECOMMENDATIONS
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
 University of the East - Manila
College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Natural Sciences

Identification and Quantification of

Microplastics in Philippine Cupped Oyster
(Crassostrea iredalei, Faustino 1932 )

Elsealear De Leon / Gabriel Salva / Danica Kayla Santos / Daniel Segovia /

Raynar Joseph Uybarreta / Steve Obanan