2024-07-09 12:24:34
Glass fibre particles have been found in oysters and mussels at alarming levels. This is the first time that glass fibre or glass fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) particles have been found in the ecosystem food chain.
According to the science media ‘phys.org’, a paper jointly conducted by the University of Brighton and the University of Portsmouth in the UK and published on the 5th (local time) in the international environmental science journal ‘Journal of Hazardous Materials’ found that GRP, which is widely used in shipbuilding, is decomposing and polluting the ocean.
The GPR particles were detected in oysters and mussels collected near the port of Chichester, southern England. Using micro-Raman spectroscopy, the researchers found up to 11,220 glass fiber particles per kilogram of oysters and 2,740 particles per kilogram of mussels.
“Our results demonstrate the severity of GRP contamination for marine life,” said Corina Ciocan, Associate Professor of Marine Biology at the University of Brighton. “This is the first time that contamination of this scale has been documented in a bivalve community.”
GRP has been widely used in shipbuilding since the 1960s because it is lightweight and durable. However, scientists have proven that it can break down in seawater over time and pollute coastlines.
Oysters and mussels, among others, are particularly vulnerable to these tiny particles because of the way they feed. When they suck in water for nutrients, the animals use their gills as filters to remove anything they don’t need. But when the water is polluted, toxic particles can easily pass through and accumulate in their tissues. “Oysters mistake these fiberglass particles for food and ingest them in large quantities,” Professor Chiocan told Newsweek.
The researchers warned that the glass fiber particles could affect the digestive ability of oysters and mussels, increase inflammation and reduce fertility.
“Glass fiber particles can have a powerful effect because they act like thorns. They can become lodged in soft tissues, making it impossible for the organism to excrete them, and they can cause inflammation, which can lead to other pathologies and ultimately death,” Professor Chiocan explained.
Of course, it also has a negative impact on humans, the top predators in the food chain.
The researchers said each country should address this problem head-on to protect marine ecosystems.
Reporter Park Hae-sik, Donga.com [email protected]
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2024-07-09 12:24:34