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Microplastics Play Hide and Seek in Our Seafood:
According to a recent study, microplastics have been found in 99% of sampled seafood. Researchers from Portland State University analyzed fish bought in grocery stores and directly from fishing boats in Oregon, discovering microplastics in 180 out of 182 samples. Pink shrimp held the dubious honor of hosting the highest levels of these contaminants.
The Main Culprit - Textile Fibers:
The researchers found that the most common type of microplastics was fibers from clothing or textiles, accounting for more than 80% of the detected microplastic content. This clearly highlights the impact our daily consumer behavior has on our food chain. "As long as we’re using plastic as a main component in our daily lives and we’re using it in a widespread fashion, then we’re going to see them in our food, too,” warned Elise Granek, a microplastics researcher, and co-author of the study.
Microplastics, A Concerning Cocktail of Chemicals:
Microplastics carry an alarming cocktail of up to 16,000 different plastic chemicals. They also have a tendency to latch onto other toxic compounds like PFAS, bisphenol, and phthalates. These have been connected to devastating health conditions like cancer, neurotoxicity, hormone disruption, or developmental toxicity. Moreover, microplastics have been found able to cross the brain and placental barriers.
Swimming Against the Microplastic Tide:
Despite the concerning findings, the study doesn’t recommend avoiding seafood. Microplastics have been identified in meat and produce too, so changing dietary habits wouldn’t be a solution. However, there might be a glimmer of hope: rinsing seafood could significantly cut down microplastic levels. Furthermore, on individual level, we can reduce our environmental impact by washing clothes less, using cold water, and avoiding fast fashion. Ultimately, to solve the microplastic crisis, regulations that reduce overall plastic use and require microplastic filters on washing machines are necessary.
The water that surrounds us now seems more like a soup of our own making, with ingredients going beyond mere salt and marine flora. Unless we push for changes, apathy could inadvertently transform our efforts to enjoy a delicious shrimp cocktail into a game of Russian roulette on the half-shell.
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