A Canadian study published on Wednesday revealed that microplastics pervasive in various aspects of the environment penetrate deep into fish bodies. By analyzing 45 freshwater fish from a lake in a residential and industrial area near Toronto, Eastern Canada, researchers from the University of Toronto and the Ontario Ministry of Environment found that, on average, each fish contained 138 pieces of microplastic, which is 17 times higher than previous study estimates.
The researchers confirmed that each fish slice contains an average of 56 particles of microplastics, according to the study published in the journal "Environmental Health Perspectives." Lead researcher Madeline Milne expressed surprise and a sense of "frustration" regarding the study's findings, aimed at "highlighting the reality that microplastics can penetrate the fillets," which is the part most commonly consumed by people.
These pollutants, some of which have been found in distant locations such as Antarctica, are the result of the physical and chemical degradation of items that take hundreds of years to decompose. These particles, generally not visible to the naked eye, are composed of polymers and other toxic compounds ranging in size from 5 millimeters to a fraction of a millimeter.
Studies on their impacts, particularly on human health for those consuming them, have only been conducted since the early 2000s, yet information remains limited and requires further research, according to a recent report from the World Health Organization. Milne also noted "a lot of rubber particles (...) that are likely from tire wear over time."
The researcher emphasized the need for people to be aware of the level of pollution in various foods they consume, stressing the necessity for a wide-ranging geographic analysis, especially near sources of microplastics. Several studies have demonstrated that these particles can lead to various harmful effects on fish, including negative impacts on growth rates, reproduction, and survival.
