2023-09-22 00:02:35
Microplastics in fish: should we worry?
We all produce around 300 million tons of plastic waste every year. A large part of it ends up in our oceans and therefore on the menu of everything that lives in it. How safe is it to eat fish and shellfish? Should we worry about the microplastics that we consume so indirectly? We discussed it with Eric De Maerteleire, bioengineer and doctor in Agricultural and Applied Biological Sciences.
What are microplastics?
Microplastics are small plastic balls of less than five millimeters that can be found everywhere: in oceans, lakes, rivers, (agricultural) soils and even in the air. There are two broad categories: primary microplastics and secondary microplastics. The first group has been deliberately made small so that they can be used in cosmetics or cleaning products. The second group occurs when larger plastic objects, such as water bottles and packaging, break down into smaller fragments.
How do microplastics end up in fish?
Microplastics can end up in our oceans and seas through the breakdown of larger plastic objects, such as fishing nets, plastic bottles or bags. These particles are ingested by plankton and other small organisms, which in turn provide a source of nutrition for fish and shellfish. But this is not the only way microplastics can enter our food chain.
Microplastics in food
Studies have looked at its possible presence in sea salt, honey, beer, bottled water, organic fertilizers used in backyards and even indoor dust that settles on our meals. The scientific evidence on the potential exposure and health risks of microplastics in the food supply is still evolving.
Do we have to worry?
Available scientific studies and reports show that human exposure to microplastics from eating fish is probably negligible. This is because the microplastics are found in the gills, liver and intestines of the fin whale, organs that are not usually eaten. It is therefore important to make a clear distinction between gutted fish on the one hand and crustaceans and shellfish on the other. The first category will contain a lot less microplastics because the intestines have been removed and that is where the largest amount of plastic is stored. Eating crustaceans and shellfish is a more important route of human exposure, because bivalves are eaten without the gastrointestinal tract being opened. That doesn’t mean we should avoid seafood. This exposure is expected to be very low.
While until a few years ago it was thought that absorption was low and, if the particles entered our bodies, the effects on health would be minimal, there is doubt within the scientific world. These microplastics, although chemically inert, have been shown to act as tiny ‘biosponges’ for harmful chemicals found in the environment, changing the nature of a plastic particle from chemically harmless to potentially toxic.
But there is discussion about its dangers for average people who only occasionally eat fish and shellfish. Plastic contamination of the food chain is unlikely to lead to immediate health risks for consumers. The American National Institutes of Health state, based on the literature reviewed, that this problem has still not been sufficiently investigated and that more attention should be paid to it to safeguard the health of the population. And in a press release, the American Chemical Society states that it is still unclear what the consequences of microplastics may be for the environment and health, especially in the long term.
International legislation is therefore being developed to restrict the use of microplastics (and nanoparticles). The European Union is also studying this problem and working on regulation.
“Pending more studies and legislation in this regard, it is wise to moderate, also in the consumption of fish, shellfish. But a weekly consumption of 2 portions of fish and occasionally crustacean and shellfish will not pose any immediate danger. health benefits. We should not forget that these products also offer very important health benefits,” says De Maerteleire.
Sources:
– EFSA: https://www.efsa.europa.eu
– World Economic Forum: https://www.weforum.org
– The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com
– European Commission: https://ec.europa.eu
– SafeFish: Microplastics in seafood.pdf – July 2022
– József Lehel, Sadhbh Murphy (2021). Microplastics in the Food Chain: Food Safety and Environmental Aspects. Rev Environ Contam Toxicol., 259:1-49.
– Shelley Li, Jacqueline I. Keenan, Ian C. Shaw, and Frank A. Frizelle (2023). Could Microplastics Be a Driver for Early Onset Colorectal Cancer?, Cancers (Basel). Jul; 15(13): 3323.
– Jun Hyung Park, Seungwoo Hong, Ok-Hyeon Kim, Chul-Hong Kim, Jinho Kim, Jung-Woong Kim, Sungguan Hong, Hyun Jung Lee (2023). Polypropylene microplastics promote metastatic features in human breast cancer. Sci Rep., Apr 17;13(1):6252.
– Stefania D’Angelo and Rosaria Meccariello (2021). Microplastics: A Threat for Male Fertility. Int J Environ Res Public Health., Mar; 18(5): 2392.
– Klára Cverenkárová, Martina Valachovicová, Tomáš Mackulak, Lukáš Žemlicka, and Lucia Bírošová (2021). Microplastics in the Food Chain. Life (Basel). December; 11(12): 1349.
Last updated: September 2023]
#Microplastics #fish #worry