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The Conversation
The Conversation
Amélie Châtel, Professeur en Ecotoxicologie aquatique, Université catholique de l’Ouest

Plastic in the ocean and on our plates: What are the risks to human health?

It’s no secret: when we savour a delicious piece of fish or a platter of seafood, we’re not just consuming valuable omega-3s and vitamin D. Alongside these benefits come less appetising elements — countless micro- and nano-plastics.

A sampling of the freshwater invertebrates C. fluminea in the Loire river. Amélie Châtel, Fourni par l'auteur

These plastic particles, measuring less than 5 millimetres, enter our oceans through human waste and penetrate the food chain. According to an Ifremer study, around 24,400 billion microplastics are floating on the ocean’s surface. These particles are found in all marine organisms — from microalgae to fish, which occupy higher levels of the food chain. This phenomenon not only threatens marine ecosystems but also raises concerns about potential risks to human health.

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