As experts convened in Geneva to discuss a global plastic pollution treaty, scientists in the Great Lakes region continued researching the impact of microplastics on human health. This research could have global implications.
The effects of microplastics on wildlife have been documented for over a decade, demonstrating declines in fertility, behavioral changes, and metabolic disorders. Microplastics are prevalent in various sources such as air, water, and food, complicating the assessment of their impacts on humans. Studies have detected microplastics in human brains, placentas, and other organs.
Microplastics pose a threat to the Great Lakes, which hold nearly 90% of U.S. freshwater. These lakes are vital for drinking, agriculture, and industry for millions, spanning both the U.S. and Canada. Chelsea Rochman, a researcher at the University of Toronto, studies the behavior of microplastics in the Great Lakes. As a research fellow at the IISD Experimental Lakes Area in Ontario, Rochman’s work focuses on how human activity influences freshwater ecosystems.
Rochman collaborates with Canada’s Ministry of the Environment to test fish for microplastics in Lakes Ontario and Superior. Her findings indicate high contamination levels, with microplastics present in every sampled fish. Some fish near Toronto contained up to 1,000 particles in their guts.
She noted that fish from the Great Lakes have some of the highest plastic concentrations worldwide. Rochman emphasized that while fish consumption isn’t the primary source of exposure, those consuming Great Lakes fish could face heightened exposure levels.
Rochman’s research supports policy recommendations for the U.S. and Canada, emphasizing the need for a monitoring framework for microplastics and a risk assessment system.
Junhong Chen from the University of Chicago co-leads the Great Lakes ReNEW program, aiming to recycle water into a clean energy resource and recover contaminants for battery production. This NSF-funded initiative seeks to remove contaminants, including heavy metals and microplastics, from the Great Lakes.
Chen highlighted the necessity of developing technology to selectively remove contaminants while preserving minerals, which could enhance water quality globally. He envisions this impact extending well beyond the project’s 10-year duration.
Policy development remains crucial, according to Susanne Brander from Oregon State University. She advocates for reducing plastic production and establishing legislative measures to combat plastic pollution. Initiatives like California’s microplastics in drinking water protocol could serve as models for mitigating plastic pollution.
Despite a lack of consensus in Geneva, researchers believe that state legislation can inspire meaningful action. Rochman cited California’s initiative as a leading example of state action against microplastic pollution.
Original Story at insideclimatenews.org