For the study, they made their own polystyrene nanoparticles in a lab that were carbon-radiolabeled so that they that could be traced in the bodies of great scallops, which are found mainly in the Atlantic.
They found that within just six hours, billions of particles that were 250 nm, or about 0.000025 mm, had become lodged in the intestines of scallops, while even smaller pieces had made their way into other body parts, including their kidneys, gonads, muscles and gills.
Even after the scallops had been move back into clean water, it took weeks for them to expel all of the nanoparticles.
“This is a ground breaking study, in terms of both the scientific approach and the findings. We only exposed the scallops to nanoparticles for a few hours and, despite them being transferred to clean conditions, traces were still present several weeks later. Understanding the dynamics of nanoparticle uptake and release, as well as their distribution in body tissues, is essential if we are to understand any potential effects on organisms. A key next step will be to use this approach to guide research investigating any potential effects of nanoparticles and in particular to consider the consequences of longer term exposures,” said Professor Richard Thompson OBE, Head of the University of Plymouth’s International Marine Litter Research Unit.
Researchers hope to build on this work to better understand the impact long-term exposure is having, but hopefully it will also serve as a reminder about the impact our actions are having on the environment. As more plastic is produced and makes its way into marine ecosystems, it’s expected to continue to break down into these tiny particles that are going to continue to make their way through the food chain posing risks to both wildlife and us.
“Understanding whether plastic particles are absorbed across biological membranes and accumulate within internal organs is critical for assessing the risk these particles pose to both organism and human health,” said Ted Henry, Professor of Environmental Toxicology at Heriot-Watt University.
Photo credit: Getty Images
For more on this story go to: https://www.care2.com/causes/scallops-can-accumulate-billions-of-plastic-particles-in-just-hours.html
By: Alicia Graef From Care2
