It is one of the healthiest wild foods found in nature, the foundation of a significant Pacific Northwest economy, and ingrained in the diets and traditions of the local Indigenous population.
However, the pervasive plastic pollution in the world has also changed it.
Scientists in Oregon have discovered that salmon and a number of other well-known fish and seafood species in the Pacific Northwest have microplastics, which are particles smaller than five millimeters and are caused by the decomposition of plastic in the environment.
Chinook salmon, Pacific lamprey, lingcod, black rockfish, Pacific herring, and pink shrimp are among them.
According to a study by Portland State University, the microscopic particles were embedded in the edible tissue of those species, so when people eat them, they are undoubtedly ingesting the microplastics.
The study is another significant finding in an expanding body of research that indicates microplastics are found in soil, water, air, and the majority of our meals, as well as in the bodies of animals and humans, however it is still unknown whether these particles could be harmful to human health.
The presence of microplastics in these huge fin fish, particularly those that avoid inshore waters, was unexpected. Elise Granek, an ecologist and professor of environmental science and management at Portland State and one of the study’s authors, stated that seeing these quantities in them supports the notion that plastic pollution affects all places.
In Depoe Bay, Oregon, microplastic trash builds up on the shore.AP
COPY CONSUMERS
Granek’s research on the effects of medicines that leak from wastewater treatment plants into streams and the Pacific Ocean on the development and reproduction of marine creatures sparked her interest in microplastics.
Ten years ago, scientists were only now beginning to realize that the plastic that was piling up in the world’s seas, especially the Pacific Ocean garbage patch, was disintegrating and endangering animals, shellfish, and fin fish. The United States banned microbeads, which are microscopic plastic particles purposefully made for use in cosmetics, in order to stop more plastics from getting into waterways.
Granek’s team collected razor clams and Pacific oysters at 15 locations on Oregon coast beaches and estuaries in order to examine the prevalence of microbeads in marine species both before and after the ban took effect.
Granek stated, “We were pretty shocked.” Of the 280 people examined, microplastics were found in all but two of them. But fibers made up more than 99 percent of the microplastics we discovered. Microbeads accounted for only 0.2% of the contamination, indicating that they were not the primary source of the microplastics that were getting into our shellfish.
Equipped with this understanding, Granek sought to determine whether microplastics were also found in fish that resided further offshore, where human influence is less prevalent, as opposed to the beaches where they had previously collected shellfish samples.
She concentrated on fish and seafood, which are a major source of food for Oregonians as well as larger fish and mammals like seals.
Some of the fish and shellfish were collected by Granek’s crew on research vessels operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration after they were newly caught. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife gathered the lamprey samples.
However, in order to better replicate what customers could experience when purchasing pink shrimp, black rockfish, and lingcod, Granek also looked for products that had undergone processing and been packaged in plastic.
Before researchers cut out chunks of filet to simulate what humans would be eating, the fish were rinsed once more to simulate what human customers would do. The gutted herring and pink shrimp were used whole.
In contrast to other research on fish, this study focused on the edible meat of the animal rather than its intestines.
Every sample was digested in a potassium hydroxide base, which degrades tissue but not plastic. After filtering the remaining gooey soup, scientists were able to examine the microplastics under a microscope.
Granek collaborated with researchers at Oregon State University to determine the type of plastic by examining the distinct infrared absorption patterns of the plastic compounds using an infrared spectrometer.
microplastics in the laboratoryCanva
Films, fibers, and fragments
The research discovered 1,806 microplastic particles in 180 out of 182 distinct fish and shellfish samples, the majority of which were gathered in 2021 and 2022.
The most prevalent kind of microplastics discovered were fibers, which are normally shed by fleece vests and other clothing when they are laundered, followed by fragments and films. Plastic wraps and cigarette inserts are examples of films, but bigger pieces of plastic that have been broken down from things like plastic water bottles or shovels are known as fragments.
Although polyester and polypropylene fabrics, such as the PET recycled water bottles used in many luxury fleeces, are the usual source of fibers, plant-based cellulose blends like rayon also fall under this category because the threads are heavily altered with chemical additives.
According to Granek, the majority of what we’re witnessing is most likely from laundered clothes, towels, sheets, and other items.
The good news is that, out of all the creatures studied for the study, the chinook salmon had the lowest concentration of microplastics in its edible tissue, followed by lingcod and black rockfish.
The highest concentration of microplastics was observed in pink shrimp, with a single pink shrimp weighing.17 ounces containing a record 36 small particles. According to Granek, this is probably because shrimp, which consume microscopic animals like zooplankton, forage in regions where microplastics tend to gather and can confuse the plastic fragments for food.
The discovery supports the findings of other researchers that microplastics travel from the gut to other organs, muscles, and tissues.
Microplastics have lately been discovered in almost every human organ, including the placenta, lungs, human heart tissue, and the testes. They have even penetrated the brain itself across the blood-brain barrier.
According to Granek, researchers are still unsure of the exact method by which microplastics enter fish or human bodies. Because of their small size, fibers in particular might be able to get through the intestinal wall and other tissue, she said.
IMPACTS ON HEALTH UNCERTAIN
However, scientists are still unsure if microplastics can be harmful to humans.
Recent years have seen a few studies that highlight the possible link or correlation between high levels of microplastics and health issues, such as heart attacks, inflammatory gut diseases, and infertility. However, research is still in its early stages, with few studies having been published and those that have been replicated.
According to Linda Kahn, an assistant professor at New York University School of Medicine, there is very little proof that microplastics in the human body have any negative health impacts.
However, the fact that microplastics can move and have been discovered in almost all human organs and tissues is extremely alarming, according to Kahn, who researches the effects of chemical exposure on people.
She said that these are foreign particles and that an inflammatory reaction occurs whenever a foreign particle enters the body.
According to Kahn, inflammation can result in an overabundance of dangerous chemicals known as free radicals, which can disrupt DNA, cell membranes, or tissue.
According to her, the microplastics’ size and shape—whether they are rounded or sharp-edged, for instance—may also cause various effects or bodily movements.
The chemicals used to give plastics their flexibility, color, hardness, smoothness, and other qualities are a further source of worry. Scientists are already aware that certain of those additions, such the artificial compounds known as PFAS, which are frequently found in plastic food packaging, have negative health impacts. It’s possible that other chemicals are better bonded to the microplastic particles, which means they won’t hurt the body or circulate as much.
According to Kahn, microorganisms frequently reside on the surface of microplastics. According to her, the microbial colonies may be dangerous even though the plastic itself is safe.
The fact that science currently lacks a multi-dimensional measure of microplastics, which would inform researchers about their size, shape, chemical additives, and microorganisms, is a significant obstacle, according to Kahn.
Sample contamination is also a frequent issue since microscopic particles are already present in the air, the scientist’s clothing, and the cup used to collect the sample.
In order to determine the level of microplastics in the environment, researchers Rosie Wood (left) and Becky Talbot gather water samples from the Clackamas River.Thanks to Elise Granek
Continue eating fish.
Granek advises against eliminating fish or shellfish from your diet out of extreme caution.
According to her, fish is good for people because it’s full of vitamin D and healthy Omega-3 fatty acids. Additionally, microplastics have been discovered in almost all of the foods we consume, such as tea bags, sea salt, honey, beef, poultry, and pork, as well as craft beer.
In addition, humans would have to cease eating, breathing, or drinking water if they wished to get rid of them because they are present in the earth we walk on, the water we drink, and the air we breathe.
We’re not advocating for people to quit eating fish or shellfish because microplastics are present everywhere. According to Granek, they are a very significant food supply, have a high nutritional content, and are vital to Oregon’s economy.
“We want to emphasize that if we release plastics into the environment, they will eventually return to our plates,” she said.
The ideal remedy? Susanne Brander, an ecotoxicologist at Oregon State University and a co-author of the study, said policies that lower plastic production and use globally.
According to Brander, a worldwide strategy is essential as plastic produced in one nation frequently ends up in another.
Since 2022, efforts have been on to negotiate a worldwide plastics treaty, which aims to limit the manufacture of plastic and some of its chemical additives. However, given Donald Trump’s reelection and the rise in plastics manufacturing, the talks have stopped and it’s uncertain if a deal will be signed.
According to Brander, we believe we have sufficient scientific proof to conclude that we must reduce our production and the negative effects of plastics and the microplastics that break off from them since they are not only detrimental to wildlife health but also probably to human health.
However, there are other things that people can do.
Laundry and dryer machine filters may be able to stop the flow of microplastics since experts think that washing and drying clothes, particularly fibers, may be a major producer of them.
According to Granek, her team is evaluating dryer vent and washing machine filters in coastal homes to see which are the most efficient and whether they are lowering the amount of microplastics entering nearby wastewater treatment facilities.
A new bill is being suggested.By 2030, all new washing machines sold in Oregon would need to feature an external or internal microfiber filter, under this session. In Australia, a comparable filter phase-in has also been suggested.
Another law aims to modernize Oregon’s Sustainable Shopping Initiative, which phased out supermarket bags made of plastic film in 2019. The proposed bill would gradually phase out single-use plastic toiletries at hotels and thicker recyclable plastic bags at the register.
Granek stated that less microplastics would naturally result from less plastic in the environment.
ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE
To lessen microplastic exposure:
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Buya laundry machine filter
. External filters are commercially available. They attach to the line that evacuates the water from your washing machine.
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Don t wash your fleece or other fleece-clothes after every use. And if you have to wash, do so in cold water and air dry. Every time you wash and dry, your machines spew tiny plastic fibers into the environment.
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Stay away from fast fashion. Cheap clothing sheds more. Higher-quality clothing will shed less in the long run. Buy used whenever possible.
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Choose to buy products made of silk or wool, rather than artificial fabrics.
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Avoid buying and using single-use plastics such as plastic water bottles, plastic grocery or produce bags and plastic food containers. Not only do they leach plastic and chemicals into your food, but they also will eventually break down into microplastics.
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Refrain from getting takeout in plastic containers, feeding babies with plastic bottles and storing food in plastic bowls or bags. Glass or stainless steel are safer.
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Don t microwave or cook in plastic. Heat increases the release of plastic chemicals.
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Vacuuming can help
reduce microplastic loads inside the home.
Gosia Wozniacka discusses a variety of environmental topics, including climate change, environmental justice, and the switch to sustainable energy. You may contact her at 971-421-3154 or [email protected].
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