Plastic pollution has become a global issue and an alarming concern in the 21st century. The world consumes a million plastic bottles every minute, while 91% of plastic waste isn’t recycled.

It is a significant hazard to our environment and marine life. But did you know that we ingest plastic through our seafood, too?.

Plastic enters the oceans

The massive amounts of plastic in our oceans are derived from various sources such as littering, industrial waste, and sewage.

Plastic waste that litters beaches or dumped in the ocean does not decompose but breaks down into tiny pieces called microplastics. These are small enough that marine species like zooplankton, fish, and shellfish can mistake them for food, leading them to ingest them.

The plastic waste in the ocean is a significant threat to marine life. It entangles and suffocates birds, seals, turtles, and other wildlife.

Large plastic debris can form killing zones like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a collection of trash in the various parts of the Pacific Ocean that is twice the size of Texas. The garbage patch negatively affects marine ecosystem by creating pockets of toxin concentration hazardous to the marine life and ultimately to humans who consume seafood originating from contaminated waters.

Plastic in shellfish and fish

The plastic consumed by fish enters the food chain when larger predators consume smaller fish. This is our prime concern as seafood can, in turn, contain small plastic particles that end up on our plates.

Microplastics ranging from 10 to 100 microns can accumulate in sediments, water, and organisms. The microplastics that are smaller than 150 microns (which is the approximate thickness of a human hair) can quickly enter marine organisms by trickling through its gills and then finally into their digestive tract.

Researchers tested the level of microplastics in commonly consumed fish like salmon and discovered that every sample had microplastics in each tissue tested.

Similarly, a study by the University of Ghent and the Norwegian institute for water research found that every 200 grams of shellfish, or 20 pieces of oysters, contain close to 50 small bits of microplastic. Researchers believe that eating contaminated seafood leads to additional consumption of chemicals and toxins that the microplastics carry.

Health implications of ingesting plastic

The ingestion of plastic particles carries health hazards for both marine life and humans. The plastic in our food chain can cause both physical and chemical hazards.

Related Article We consume plastic by eating fish

Microplastics in our food can damage our gut lining, and studies across Europe have found microplastics in human stools, indicating that it is present in the digestive tract. The studies indicate that humans who consume a significant amount of seafood contaminated with microplastics could be at risk for various diseases, such as cancer, liver problems, and even reproductive disorders.

Plastic in seafood isn’t only a health hazard. It can also impact your diet’s nutritional quality.

A significant percentage of plastic, such as water bottles, is made of bisphenol-A (BPA), a harmful chemical found in the lining of food and drinks containers. The chemical can interfere with the hormone system by affecting estrogen production and disrupt the functioning of the brain, among other long-term health effects.

Brown shrimp is one of the most commonly consumed seafood in the western world and has tested positive for BPA.

Reducing our plastic consumption

As consumers, we are part of the problem and the solution. Our consumption habits impact the quality of seafood available as it largely depends on industrial-scale production.

To reduce our plastic consumption, we need to take simple steps such as recycling, reducing the use of single-use plastics, and properly disposing of our waste.

We can also choose seafood sourced from sustainable fisheries and aquaculture as they are less likely to have been contaminated.

It involves determining the sustainability of the fishery or aquaculture source, which is done by assessing the impact on the environment and the health of humans and marine life. Seafood endorsed with sustainable certification, such as Aquaculture Stewardship Council, Marine Stewardship Council, and Friend of the Sea, follows rigorous standards that ensure sustainable food and traceability.