Microplastics: Our Unwanted Seafood Surprise:

Here's a fresh catch of news for seafood lovers! In a recent study, 99% of seafood samples showed contamination with microplastics. An astounding number, isn't it? Around 180 of 182 samples, spanning five types of fish and pink shrimp, were found polluted with these tiny nuisances. The title for the highest levels went to our dearly delicious shrimp.

A Tangle of Textiles:

The most prevalent type of these microplastics were fibers from clothing or textiles, comprising over 80% of the detected substance. So, it appears that our clothes and textiles are leaving more than a fashion statement in the ocean.

Scale of the Problem:

Elise Granek, a microplastics researcher from the Portland State University and co-author, highlighted the severity of the issue with widespread plastic use. The more we use plastic in our daily life, the more microplastics will sneak into our food.

Seafood or Microplastic Buffet:

The seafood that was sampled in the study included five types of fin fish and pink shrimp. Microplastics can indeed journey from gills or mouths to the meat we enjoy. Sea creatures such as shrimp and herring showed higher levels of contamination due to their diet of surface-dwelling plankton, which also house a significant amount of microplastics.

Fabric-Care for Eco-Care:

On an individual level, Granek pointed out that our washing machines are a significant source of this aquatic pollution. So folks, consider washing your clothes less frequently, adopt cold water for cleaning, and try to avoid synthetic fabrics and fast fashion.

Policy-Level Changes Needed:

But, we need more than personal changes. A policy-level overhaul is necessary to curb plastic use and mandate filters in washing machines that can catch these microplasitcs. A bill in California requiring this was lamentably vetoed due to industry pressure. A similar bill has now been introduced in Oregon. Let's hope it passes!

Granek's takeaway for all of us: If we don't want microplastics in our food, then changes to our everyday practices are in order.

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