Seafood samples contain high levels of microplastics in US state, say researchers

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Microplastics were detected in almost every seafood sample found off the coast of the western U.S. in a recent study, researchers claim. 

The study, led by Portland State University (PSU), identified "anthropogenic particles" — which are materials produced or modified by humans — in the edible tissue of six different species of fish. 

Those included black rockfish, lingcod, Chinook salmon, Pacific herring, Pacific lamprey, and pink shrimp, according to a PSU press release.

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Specifically, the peer-reviewed study found microplastics — "tiny particles that shed from clothing, packaging and other plastic products" — in 180 out of 182 samples of seafood that were either purchased at a store or obtained from a fishing boat in Oregon, the release stated.

Microplastics were detected in almost every seafood sample found off the coast of the western U.S. in a recent study, researchers claim.? (iStock)

The highest concentration of particles occurred in pink shrimp, and Chinook salmon contained the lowest.

"We found that the smaller organisms that we sampled seem to be ingesting more anthropogenic, non-nutritious particles," said microplastics researcher and study co-author Elise Granek in the release. 

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"Shrimp and small fish, like herring, are eating smaller food items like zooplankton. Other studies have found high concentrations of plastics in the area in which zooplankton accumulate, and these anthropogenic particles may resemble zooplankton and thus be taken up for animals that feed on zooplankton."

"What we put out into the environment ends up back on our plates."

Susanne Brander, an ecotoxicologist and associate professor in Oregon State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences, added, "It’s very concerning that microfibers appear to move from the gut into other tissues such as muscle. This has wide implications for other organisms, potentially including humans."

The findings were published in the journal Frontiers in Toxicology.

Is it safe to eat seafood?

The study authors do not recommend that people specifically avoid seafood, as microplastics have been widely found in other food products, Granek noted in the release.

"If we are disposing of and utilizing products that release microplastics, those microplastics make their way into the environment, and are taken up by things we eat," she said. 

Microplastics — "tiny particles that shed from clothing, packaging and other plastic products" — were found in 180 out of 182 samples of seafood. (iStock)

"What we put out into the environment ends up back on our plates."

The high prevalence of microplastics in the seafood samples does not automatically mean that consuming seafood poses an immediate health risk, according to Bing Wang, PhD, associate professor of food safety risk assessment at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 

"’Safe’ is a relative term in toxicology," Wang told Fox News Digital. "Toxicity depends on dose and exposure duration — and currently, we lack a definitive understanding of linkage between the oral intake of microplastics and nanoplastics and the adverse effects in human health."

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Experts agree that the nutritional benefits of seafood, such as high-quality protein and omega-3 fatty acids, play a crucial role in a healthy diet, according to Wang.

"There is no current evidence to suggest that seafood consumption poses an immediate danger to human health," she added.

Sources of contamination

For this study in particular, Wang said it’s crucial to recognize that beyond microplastics, nanoplastics are also present in the environment and food supply. 

"Unlike microplastics, which may pass through the digestive system with minimal absorption, nanoplastics are small enough to cross biological barriers, including the intestinal lining, potentially reaching the bloodstream and accumulating in organs," she cautioned.

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In PSU’s findings, 80% of microplastics detected among the samples were derived from clothing or textile fibers, but there are other sources of contaminants. 

Since the 1960s, plastic production has increased by approximately 8.7% annually, according to Andrew Ortiz, a PhD student in the department of food science and technology at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 

The study authors do not recommend that people specifically avoid seafood, as microplastics have been widely found in other food products. (iStock)

"Much of the contamination comes from everyday human activities, such as improper disposal of plastic products, littering, and inadequate waste management systems, which lead to plastics entering waterways and eventually reaching the oceans," Ortiz told Fox News Digital.

Completely avoiding microplastics is challenging, Wang emphasized.

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"They are pervasive in the environment and present in various food sources, not just seafood," she said.  

"While this study is the first of its kind in the Oregon region, its findings align with global research on microplastic contamination in seafood," said Wang. "In fact, the levels reported in this study are within the global average."

"There is no current evidence to suggest that seafood consumption poses an immediate danger to human health."

"Given that humans already consume microplastics from multiple sources — including water, air and packaged foods — the presence of microplastics in seafood should be considered within this broader context rather than as an isolated risk," she added.

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The PSU study was funded by Oregon Sea Grant at Oregon State University.