The quality of our seafood has been in the news a lot lately. A new study has found that people who eat seafood are also eating plastic — 11,000 pieces of microplastic per year to be exact.
Researchers at the University of Ghent in Belgium found that seafood eaters are consuming plastic at a concerning rate.
“Per serving of mussels (贻贝), which contains about 300 grams of mussel meat, you get 300 pieces of plastic inside your body,” researchers wrote. Researchers don't yet know the implications of eating microplastic, but they worry that it could have negative consequences on our health.
While we don't know what microplastic does yet to humans, we do know what it does to sea animals. In earlier studies, scientists have found that when fish eat microplastics, it prevents their growth and changes their feeding patterns. In fact, fish will stop eating natural sources of nutrients, and only go for plastic.
When you're done using plastic, a small portion (部分) may be recycled. However, more than likely it's in a landfill or making its way towards the ocean. Once rubbish hits the water, sea creatures may mistake it for food. This often leads to poisoning or death. If they get caught for human's food, the plastic may very well make its way back to you — on your dinner plate.
According to a study published in Science magazine, eight million tons of plastic go into our waterways every year. The problem is so serious that scientists say that by 2050 the weight of plastic in our oceans will outweigh fish. And just because it's out of sight, it doesn't mean it should be out of mind.
There's no immediate way to prevent microplastic from ending up in your body. However, you can help reduce the amount of plastic reaching rivers, lakes and oceans in the first place. You can make a difference with your choices every day. Even small changes will add up. While your dinner may contain microplastic, you can help prevent the future generations from having that same problem.
