If You Eat Seafood, You're Probably Eating Plastic

Abstract

Editorial| October 01 2017 If You Eat Seafood, You're Probably Eating Plastic Friedman Mark Friedman Mark 1MARK FRIEDMAN is mentor to the Microplastics Team. Teachers and student environmental clubs interested in collaborating on Microplastic research and educational action campaigns should contact him at: Marklewisfriedman@gmail.com. The author is a Marine Biology Educator for the Los Angeles Maritime Institute, San Pedro, CA and a Mentor to the Animo, CA High School NABT Bio Club. Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar The American Biology Teacher (2017) 79 (8): 609–610. https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2017.79.8.609 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Friedman Mark; If You Eat Seafood, You're Probably Eating Plastic. The American Biology Teacher 1 October 2017; 79 (8): 609–610. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2017.79.8.609 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentThe American Biology Teacher Search Researchers announced recently that regular seafood eaters could be ingesting up to 11,000 microplastic particles a year. Even though 99 percent pass through the body, as much as 1 percent, or about 60 particles, may be absorbed and will accumulate over time. In the ocean, plastic acts like a sponge picking up toxins and chemicals. Annually, almost 9 million tons of plastic gets dumped into the ocean, threatening the existence of marine life and potentially tainting the human food supply. The plastic that makes its way into the world's oceans comes from a diverse range of sources, including most clothing made from synthetic materials. Surprisingly, when such clothes are washed they shed thousands of tiny plastic microfibers. These microplastics are ingested by marine organisms, which we eat, in turn. In addition, the sun's ultraviolet rays break down plastic polymers into chemicals that can disrupt human hormonal systems, especially those of... You do not currently have access to this content.