News – New study emerges in mussels, oysters and scallops.
The research – led by researchers at Hull York School of Medicine and the University of Hull – looked at more than 50 studies between 2014 and 2020 to examine global microplastic contamination levels in fish and shellfish.
Scientists are still trying to understand the health effects for people who eat fish and shellfish contaminated with these tiny bits of waste plastic, which find their way into waterways and oceans through waste mismanagement.
The study’s author, Evangelos Danopoulos, a graduate student at Hull York School of Medicine, said: “The full impact of microplastics on the human body is not yet fully understood, but early evidence from other studies suggests that they are cron.
“Understanding the overall impact of microplastics is a crucial step in understanding the overall impact on human consumption. We can start to do this by looking at the amount of seafood and fish eaten and measuring the amount of MPs in these creatures. “
The study shows that microplastic content was 0–10.5 microplastics per gram (BP / g) in molluscs, 0.1–8.6 BP / g in bark, 0–2.9 BP / g in fish.
The latest consumption data in the research shows that China, Australia, Canada, Japan and the US are among the largest buyers of molluscs, followed by Europe and the UK.
Molluscs collected off the coasts of Asia were the most polluted by researchers suggesting that these areas are more polluted by plastic.
Evangelos Danopoulos said: “Microplastics have been found in many parts of organisms such as the gut and liver. Seafood species such as oysters, mussels and scallops are eaten whole but in larger fish and mammals only parts are Therefore, understanding the microplastic contamination of certain parts of the body, and their consumption by humans, is crucial. “
Plastic waste generated worldwide is expected to triple to 155-265 million metric tons per year by 2060. As soon as the plastic finds its way into oceans, lakes and rivers its ability to finish as a microplastic within shellfish, fish and marine mammals.
The research shows that conventional methods for measuring microplastic contamination are needed to make it easier to compare different measurements. Researchers said more data is needed from different parts of the world to understand how the issue varies between different oceans, seas and waterways.
###
The paper, “Microplastic contamination of seafood intended for human consumption: a systematic review and meta-analysis” is published in Environmental health considerations