Microplastics found in Agusan del Norte bangus

MANILA — A study by Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) researchers revealed the presence of microplastics in samples of milkfish (bangus) from Butuan City and Nasipit in the province of Agusan del Norte.

The study, published in August 2023, showed that 29 out of 30 milkfish samples contained between five to 10 pieces of microplastics.

Dr. Hernando Bacosa, MSU-IIT professor of environmental science, explained why their findings point to such a high proportion of their samples yielding pieces of microplastics.

“Butuan City is the regional capital. It has a higher population, has more industries and has economic activities resulting in higher waste generation. This may have led to the contamination of water,” he said.

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Different forms of polymers were found in the samples including polyethylene, polystyrene (styro), polyamide (nylon), and polypropylene (plastic bags) – all of which are used by people every day.

Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than 5 micrometers. These are invisible to the eye, allowing them to make their way inside the human body either by inhalation or ingestion.

NOT JUST MILKFISH 

Milkfish isn’t the only fish species found to contain microplastics.

A similar study by the Ateneo De Manila University in 2019 looked at water and seafood samples in Ticalan, Batangas. Results also indicated the presence of microplastics in water, sediments, oysters, and other fish species in the area.

With the Philippines among the world’s biggest plastic polluters, Dr. Gelo Apostol, environmental health specialist at the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, said the problem with plastic is bound to get worse if not immediately acted upon.

“Lalo na ngayon mas marami ang gumagamit. Eventually, marami sa mga ito ay mapupunta sa karagatan. It can get broken down to smaller pieces, kakainin ng mga lamang-dagat hanggang sa makarating sa hapag-kainan,” he said.

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(With more people using plastic now, a lot of these will actually make its way to our ocean where they will get broken down into small pieces. These will then be ingested by planktons and fish. They will eventually find their way to our dinner tables.)

Apostol adds that with the pervasiveness of plastic in our coastal waters and the presence of microplastics in samples, it is highly likely that humans are already consuming food laced with it.

Despite this, experts all agree that there remains to be a void in knowledge pertaining to the effects of microplastics to human health.

MORE STUDIES NEEDED

As the study on microplastics is a relatively new undertaking, many experts agree that findings like these should spur further studies to be able to come up with a “standardized protocol” on its effects following consumption.

For Bacosa, however, it remains clear how microplastics may pose a threat to human health.

“Puwedeng dumikit ‘yung heavy metals; puwedeng dumikit doon ang bacteria or viruses. Puwedeng dumikit ang mga pesticides. So ‘yan po ang pinagaaralan namin ngayon.”

(Its surface can carry heavy metals, bacteria, viruses and pesticides. These are things we are studying now.)

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Even Apostol agrees.

“There is still no related indication no evidence to indicate human health concern. But the absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence. It’s only a matter of time before we see effects of microplastics to human health,” Apostol said.

What is clear from the study, however, is that the use of plastics and the problems it poses to the environment continues to worsen. And despite currently implemented laws on solid waste management and the recently enacted Extended Producer Responsibility Law, individual responsibility plays a greater role to control this growing concern.

For the DOH, studies like these are more than just additions to the body of knowledge. Rather, they show how intricately woven individuals, public policy, environment, and health concerns are.