Microplastics from everyday products are making their way into the fish and seafood we consume, warns new research by Portland State University (PSU). These tiny particles, shed from clothing, packaging, and other plastics, contaminate marine species and ultimately enter the human food chain.
PSU’s Applied Coastal Ecology Lab, led by Professor Elise Granek, studied six key seafood species in Oregon, including Chinook salmon, black rockfish, and pink shrimp. Pink shrimp, feeding near the water’s surface, showed the highest levels of microplastic contamination, while Chinook salmon had the least.
The study found over 1,800 suspected microplastic particles in 180 of 182 samples. Fibers were most common, followed by fragments and films. The findings, published in Frontiers in Toxicology, reveal that microplastics migrate beyond the gut, accumulating in muscle tissue consumed by humans.
“We’re seeing how these non-nutritious particles move into edible tissues,” said co-researcher Susanne Brander of Oregon State University. This raises concerns about long-term health impacts on humans and ecosystems.
Granek’s lab is exploring solutions, including stormwater filtration systems and cost-effective filters for household appliances, funded by NOAA and Oregon Sea Grant. These measures aim to curb microplastic pollution at its source.
The research underscores the urgent need for policy changes and public awareness about microplastics’ pervasive presence. Granek emphasizes, “What we release into the environment comes back to us, often on our plates.”
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#Microplastics #SeafoodSafety #MarineConservation #EcoSolutions
