Maya Ellison
Plastic waste has become a ubiquitous presence in the environment, with microplastics—small plastic pieces less than 5mm long—found in oceans, soils, and even the human body. These microplastics enter the food chain when animals ingest them, either accidentally or by mistaking them for food. As these plastics are not easily broken down, they build up and are passed from animal to animal, eventually reaching humans through the consumption of meat or other contaminated food sources. The health consequences of this plastic infiltration are not yet fully understood, but studies indicate potential adverse effects on reproduction, endocrine systems, and gene expression.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic enters the food chain | When animals eat or ingest contaminated food materials |
| Plastic enters the food chain as | Microplastics, less than 5mm in size |
| Microplastics enter the food web | When animals accidentally ingest or eat them |
| Microplastics are created | By unintentional degradation of large plastic objects |
| Plastic enters the food chain from | Packaging materials, synthetic textiles, car tires, paints, personal care products, electronic equipment |
| Plastic enters the food chain through | Marine life, food crops, drinking water |
| Plastic in the food chain affects | Marine life, birds, humans |
| Plastic affects marine life by | Causing severe harm, entrapment, injury, and sometimes, death |
| Plastic affects humans by | Causing reproductive, neurological, and immune disorders |
| Plastic in the food chain can be reduced by | Beach clean-ups, securing bin lids, supporting non-profits |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic waste enters oceans and other water bodies
Plastic waste has been found in oceans and other water bodies worldwide, including in the Antarctic sea ice and the deepest ocean trenches. It is estimated that 8 million tonnes of plastics enter the seas and oceans each year, with 381 million tonnes of plastic waste generated in 2021 alone. Scientists predict this figure to double by 2034.
Once in the water, plastic waste breaks down into smaller pieces, known as microplastics, through the natural disintegration process. These microplastics are then consumed by marine organisms, leading to plastic infiltration in the food chain. Zooplankton, at the bottom of the marine food chain, ingest these microplastics, which are then consumed by larger organisms, such as fish. As a result, plastic accumulates in the bodies of marine animals, eventually reaching the top predators, including humans who consume seafood.
The presence of plastic waste in oceans and other water bodies has severe ecological consequences. It can cause harm and even death to marine organisms, such as plankton, fish, seabirds, and whales. Additionally, it contaminates soil and vegetation on land, further impacting the food chain. The chemicals in plastic can interfere with hormones, causing reproductive, neurological, and immune disorders in humans and other animals.
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Animals mistake plastic for food and ingest it
Plastic waste has been found in almost every part of the environment, including the ocean, soil, and even in human and animal food chains. Animals mistake plastic for food and ingest it for a variety of reasons.
Firstly, the smell of plastic waste can be enticing to animals. As plastic debris accumulates in the ocean, algae grow on it and emit a stinky sulfur odor known as dimethyl sulfide (DMS), which attracts seabirds that feed on krill. The birds follow their noses in search of krill and are led to plastic debris, mistaking it for food. This has been observed in albatrosses, petrels, and shearwaters, among other seabird species.
Secondly, the appearance of plastic can also deceive animals into thinking it is food. Sea turtles, for example, often mistake clear plastic bags for jellyfish, their natural prey. Other marine animals, including fish, consume rice-sized microplastics because they resemble the small particles they usually eat.
Additionally, some animals may ingest plastic unintentionally while feeding. Passive feeders, such as plankton, filter their food from water or soil and may accidentally consume microplastics along with their food. Active feeders, on the other hand, may ingest plastic not only accidentally while feeding but also by consuming prey that already contains plastic.
The ingestion of plastic can have serious health consequences for animals. Sharp or rough plastic can cause cuts in the digestive system, leading to infections and internal bleeding. It can also block their digestive system, reducing their appetite and making it difficult to obtain necessary nutrients. Furthermore, plastic can carry harmful pollutants and release chemicals that can be toxic to animals if ingested.
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Plastic travels from animals to humans via food chain
Plastic waste often ends up in the sea, where it is ingested by marine animals and can then be passed from animal to animal, eventually reaching humans via seafood. A 2020 study found microplastics and nanoplastics in fruit and vegetables sold by supermarkets and local sellers in Italy, showing that plastic particles can also contaminate food crops directly.
Microplastics are pieces of plastic smaller than 5mm in length. They are often consumed by fish and other ocean creatures, and the toxins they carry are passed up the food chain. These toxins can accumulate in animal fat and tissue through a process called bioaccumulation. While the impact of ingesting plastics on human health is not yet fully understood, studies suggest it could be harmful. For example, chemicals added during the production of plastics can disrupt the endocrine system and the hormones that regulate growth and development, causing reproductive, neurological and immune disorders.
Research has found microplastics in the guts of marine animals inhabiting the deepest ocean trenches, in the brains of fish, and in drinking water around the world. Plastic pollution has also been found on beaches, in seawater samples, and in soils on land. It is estimated that there are around 24.4 trillion fragments of microplastics in the upper regions of the world's oceans.
The number of individual animals affected by plastic would run into the billions. In 2015, Dutch researchers found that the number of marine species that swallow or get caught in plastic had doubled since 1997, and this number is now believed to be above 2000. Plastic pollution can also directly threaten animals by entangling them or blocking their digestive tracts when ingested.
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Plastic contaminates food crops directly
Plastic particles contaminate food crops directly. A 2020 study found microplastics and nanoplastics in fruit and vegetables sold in supermarkets and by local sellers in Catania, Sicily. Apples were the most contaminated fruit, and carrots had the highest levels of microplastics among the sampled vegetables.
According to Willie Peijnenburg, a professor of environmental toxicology and biodiversity at Leiden University in the Netherlands, crops absorb nanoplastic particles from surrounding water and soil through tiny cracks in their roots. Most of the plastics accumulated in the plant roots, with only a small amount travelling up to the shoots. Peijnenburg's research also found that the uptake of plastic particles did not stunt the growth of the crops. However, the effect of this accumulation of plastic in our food on human health is less clear and requires further research.
While the impact of ingesting plastics on human health is not yet fully understood, some studies suggest it could be harmful. Research shows that chemicals added during plastic production can disrupt the endocrine system and the hormones that regulate growth and development. Danopoulos, an expert in the field, questions whether more care is needed to ensure microplastics do not enter the food chain. For example, sludge is known to be contaminated with microplastics, and plants can extract them from the soil, yet it is still used as fertiliser in some countries.
The presence of microplastics in the human food chain has been a growing concern in recent years. The industrial production of plastics dates back to 1950, and since then, plastic waste has generated millions of tonnes of waste, with only a small percentage being recycled. Microplastics are now found everywhere, from the Antarctic sea ice to the deepest ocean trenches, and in drinking water and soil worldwide.
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Plastic waste is spread by wind, reaching rivers and seas
The plastic industry has generated waste since the 1950s, which now counts in the millions. The largest share of plastic consumption is used to produce packaging materials, including those applied in the food industry. The versatility of plastic materials is due to their lightness, flexibility, strength, and persistence. These properties are suitable for packaging food and other goods, so more than a third of the plastics produced are intended for the packaging industry.
The problem is that plastic does not break down easily and builds up over time. It is estimated that 8 million tonnes of plastics enter the seas and oceans each year, and plastic pollution has been found on beaches and in seawater samples across the planet. Plastic waste is spread by wind, from landfills, into rivers, and then into the seas.
Plastic waste in the oceans breaks down into microplastics, which are small plastic pieces less than 5mm long. These microplastics are then ingested by marine organisms, which can cause severe harm and even death. As these plastic-eating organisms are preyed upon, the plastics are passed up the food chain, eventually reaching humans.
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Frequently asked questions
Microplastics are small plastic pieces less than 5mm long. They are created by the unintentional degradation of large plastic objects such as plastic bags, boxes, ropes and nets.
Microplastics enter the food chain when animals accidentally ingest or eat them. Zooplankton, which are microscopic organisms eaten by all kinds of fish, ingest small pieces of plastic that can wind up in the bodies of the animals who eat them.
When animals eat other animals that have already ingested plastic, they consume that plastic too. This is how plastic travels up the food chain.
Studies have confirmed unusually high levels of microplastics in seafood. Given that humans are at the top of the food chain, there is no doubt that we are exposed to higher levels of microplastics.
To stop plastic from entering the food chain, we need to reduce plastic waste and stop dumping plastic into the ocean. We should also support organisations that are working to protect our oceans and water sources.
