{
  "id": 96114,
  "title": "Deep-sea snails and mussels in Indian and Pacific Oceans contain microplastics, study finds",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/deep-sea-snails-and-mussels-in-indian-and-pacific-oceans-contain",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-03T18:38:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Mongabay",
    "slug": "mongabay",
    "url": "https://news.mongabay.com/2026/08/deep-sea-snails-and-mussels-in-indian-and-pacific-oceans-contain-microplastics-study-finds/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 2016, researchers embarked on two expeditions to study deep-sea hydrothermal vents in the North Fiji Basin of the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Utilizing an underwater robot to capture specimens, they carefully collected 12 animals, including mussels and snails, which were then flash frozen to prevent contamination. Upon analyzing the results of these expeditions, conducted between 2016 and 2019, it was discovered that microplastic particles were present in the tissues of 11 out of the 12 sampled animals from four different species. The findings, published in Water Research, indicate that human activities have an impact even on remote creatures residing in some of the most isolated areas on Earth.",
  "summary": "Three days away from shore, in the darkened control room of a huge ship, all eyes are fixed on a glowing wall of screens. Live images of mussels and snails appear. The animals are packed around a deep-sea chimney venting something that looks like black smoke, but is actually superheated, mineral-rich water bursting from the […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Research Matters India",
        "title": "Bioluminescent algal blooms are replacing diatoms in Indian waters, and dams may be the reason, says new study",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/bioluminescent-algal-blooms-are-replacing-diatoms-in-indian-waters",
        "published": "2026-08-03T00:30:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}