Microplastics and Other Anthropogenic Debris in Fish and Potential Implications for Human Exposures

• Main Author: Kim, Joel
• Other Authors: Rochman, Chelsea M., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
• Format: Thesis
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: Fish; Human; Microplastics; Translocation; 0329; First Nations
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1807/98097

Microplastics are an inconspicuous environmental threat that have received considerable attention due to global contamination and potential adverse ecological and human health impacts. Recent studies demonstrate that microplastics are ingested by aquatic organisms and can cause physiological and toxicological damage. As a result, concerns have been raised by government agencies and the public regarding microplastics in seafood. First Nations communities around Lake Simcoe have also expressed concern regarding microplastic contamination in their fish. In response, I measured contamination levels in fish from Lake Simcoe and found 93.2% (N=44) contained anthropogenic debris, the majority (86.8%) being fibers. The size of the fish was positively correlated with the quantity of anthropogenic debris found. In addition, I tested the potential for microplastic translocation in laboratory fish to inform exposure routes to humans. No translocation of microplastics was observed, suggesting the consumption of fish fillets is likely not a significant exposure pathway to humans. M.Sc.