Pervasive environmental issue in Canada: Microplastics levels are high in Toronto-caught fish

Published 2024년 7월 17일

Tridge summary

A recent study authored by researchers from the University of Toronto and Ontario's Ministry of the Environment, published in Toronto, highlights a concerning finding about microplastics in fish from Humber Bay, located along Lake Ontario. The study discovered that fish from this area contain up to 12 times more microplastics per serving compared to some store-bought alternatives, with an average of 138 particles per fish, a significantly higher count than in other studies. While more research is needed to establish potential health risks, the study underscores the broader issue of microplastic pollution in the environment and in food, particularly affecting freshwater fish. The research does not indicate that the microplastics are accumulating in the fish over time. However, it is important to note that the ingestion of microplastics from two servings of Humber Bay fish fillets per week would still result in a lower annual intake compared to other sources like bottled water. This study adds to the growing body of research on microplastics in food and environment, emphasizing the need for policy actions and solutions to reduce single-use plastics and address microplastic pollution.
Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

TORONTO — Fillets from fish caught along Toronto's waterfront have up to 12 times more microplastics per serving than some common store-bought alternatives, newly published research suggests. While scientists are still trying to uncover whether microplastics pose a direct risk to human health, the study co-authored by researchers at the University of Toronto and Ontario's Ministry of the Environment offers a look at how car tires and other plastics are degrading into minuscule pieces and ending up in fish — and onto the dinner table. "The elevated number of particles observed in fish from Humber Bay highlights the need for large-scale geographic monitoring, especially near sources of microplastics," the study said. Microplastics, no bigger than the width of a pencil eraser down to about the width of mitochondria, have become ubiquitous, showing up everywhere from human blood to Arctic Sea ice. In fish, these broken-down bits of larger plastics have been linked to lower levels of ...

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