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Here, a set of experiments to assess the feasibility of using an invasive and widespread freshwater mussel (Dreissena rostrformis bugensis) as a sentinel species for nanoplastic detection is reported. Under laboratory experimental conditions, mussels ingest and retain fluorescent polystyrene (PS) beads with carboxylic acid (COOH) termination over a size range of 200–2000 nm. The number of beads the mussels ingested is quantified using fluorescence spectroscopy and the location of the beads in the mussels is imaged using fluorescence microscopy. PS beads of similar size (1000–2000 nm) to mussels' preferred food are trafficked in the ciliated food grooves of the gills. Beads of all sizes are observed in the mussels' digestive tracts, indicating that the mussels do not efficiently reject the beads as unwanted foreign material, regardless of size. Fluorescence microscopy shows all sizes of beads are concentrated in the siphons and are retained there for longer than one month postexposure. Combined atomic force microscopy–infrared spectroscopy and photothermal infrared spectroscopy are used to locate, image, and chemically identify the beads in the mussel siphons. In sum, these experiments demonstrate the potential for using mussels, specifically their siphons, to monitor environmental accumulation of aquatic nanoplastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issue Addressed: Affordability of a healthy diet is a determinant of nutritional intake and therefore health. This project aimed to measure the cost of healthy foods across a geographically defined region and examine factors related to changing food prices to assist in informing health promotion practice.Methods: The cost of a healthy food basket was measured using the Victorian Healthy Food Basket tool, in all eligible stores, across five rural local government areas in Western Victoria, Australia in 2014, 2015 and 2016. One-way analysis of variance was used to investigate differences in healthy food basket cost across years. Multivariable linear regression models were constructed to adjust for baseline (2014) cost to determine factors associated with cost.Results: Data were collected from 45 stores in 2014 and 2015 and 48 stores in 2016. The average cost of the healthy food basket was $459 in 2014, $437 in 2015 and $443 in 2016. The cost of the healthy food basket was the highest in stores >15 km from the major regional centre and in areas with only one supermarket (non-cluster) (P < 0.05). All food groups except fruit and vegetables decreased in price between 2014 and 2016.Conclusion: This project highlights distance from regional centres and competition as possible factors that influence the cost of healthy food. SO WHAT?: This is valuable insight for health promoters in designing both local level interventions aimed at improving access to healthy food and influencing regional food systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]