Plastic particles found in nearly all Oregon seafood tested, scientists say

A Portland State University study found that anthropogenic particles, including microplastics and synthetic fibers, contaminated nearly every sample of popular seafood species tested in Oregon, raising concerns about human exposure.

Hatty Willmoth reports for Newsweek.


In short:

  • Researchers tested nine species of seafood and found anthropogenic particles in 180 out of 182 samples.
  • Synthetic fibers, primarily from clothing, made up 82% of the detected particles, with pink shrimp showing the highest contamination levels.
  • Store-bought fish, like lingcod, had higher contamination levels than freshly caught specimens, indicating possible contamination during processing.

Key quote:

"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 too."

— Associate Professor Susanne Brander, ecotoxicologist at Oregon State University and principal scientist, EHS Action Science Initiative

Why this matters:

Microplastics can carry harmful chemicals and have been linked to endocrine disruption and increased cancer risks. Contamination in edible tissues highlights a pathway for human exposure, emphasizing the need for better pollution controls to protect marine ecosystems and public health.

Related EHN coverage:

About the author(s):

EHN Curators
EHN Curators
Articles curated and summarized by the Environmental Health News' curation team. Some AI-based tools helped produce this text, with human oversight, fact checking and editing.

You Might Also Like

photo of man hugging a smiling tan dog.
Science Saturday Weekly Newsletter

In a toxic world, pets could be vital health watchdogs

1 min read

Recent

Top environmental health news from around the world.

Environmental Health News

Your support of EHN, a newsroom powered by Environmental Health Sciences, drives science into public discussions. When you support our work, you support impactful journalism. It all improves the health of our communities. Thank you!

donate