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Microfibers are now ubiquitous in the environment largely due to the widespread use of natural and synthetic textiles. Many enter aquatic systems through wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent, surface water runoff, and atmospheric deposition, where they persist and may be ingested by filter-feeding organisms. In addition to causing physical damage (e.g., digestive and respiratory obstructions), microfibers are often carriers of chemical pollutants that may also harm biota. This exploratory study aimed to determine whether freshwater mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera L.) microfiber content varied between two rural tributaries of the Saint John River, whether microfiber content was related to WWTP discharge points or potential diffuse microfiber sources, and whether mussel size was associated with microfiber content. Mussels were collected both upstream and downstream of five WWTP discharge …