Study on the Impacts of Microplastics Pollution on Fish

STUDY ON

THE IMPACT OF MICROPLASTICS POLLUTION IN MEXICAN

EXECUTIVE FISH SUMMARY FishesWithoutPlastic • • • • Collaborators: • • • • Technical managers: y Pesquerías, Universidad Veracruzana) FloresBiol. Minerva Vargas (Instituto Marinas de Ciencias yConservaciónsidad Arrecifal, UNAM) M.C. Esmeralda Pérez Cervantes (Laboratorio deBiodiver yConservaciónsidad Arrecifal, UNAM) Biol. OmarOsletRivera Garibay (Laboratorio deBiodiver ma deBajaCalifornia Sur) P.B.M. Juan Carlos Perusquía Ardón (Universidad Autóno Greenpeace International) Dr. David Santillo (Science Unit Exeter University Dr. Horacio Pérez España (Universidad Veracruzana) de México) Dr. Lorenzo Álvarez Filip (Universidad Autónoma Nacional California Sur) Dr. Héctor Reyes Bonilla(Universidad Autónoma deBaja - - - 2 FISHES • Drafting: • • Coordinators: WITH-M.C. Bárbara RojasMontiel Biológica M.C. Alejandro Olivera Bonilla,Centro para laDiversidad Dr. MiguelRivas Soto, Greenpeace México A.C.

OUT

Without Plastic PLASTICFishes

FishesWithoutPlastic © Greenpeace/ Roger Grace Roger Greenpeace/ © Plastic Fishes Without

Thirteen million metric tons of plastic are Likewise, we analyzed at Greenpeace Science Unit a thrown into our oceans each year. This plastic pollution causes environmental and economic subsample (144) of the fragments found so we could damage that transcends borders and affects more than 700 marine species. In Mexico we confirm whether or not the fragments were actually produce more than seven million metric tons of plastic per year; 48% of this plastic is used plastic. for containers and packaging that are not recycled since our recycling capacity of valuable residues is only 6.07%. Among our main results, we found that: Most of the plastic that pollutes our oceans has a very small diameter (less than 5 milli- The presence of plastic in fish could po- • Twenty percent of the 755 fish sampled • Laboratory analysis identified eight diffe- meters); these are known as “microplastics”. tentially affect consumers’ interest in these contained plastic fragments. This was rent kinds of polymers from the fish sto- Given their low weight, microplastics can ea- products and, consequently, the economics validated after calculations in laboratory machs: cellophane, ethylene-vinyl acetate sily be transported by oceanic currents, which of local fishing communities. analysis using the Fourier Transformed (EVA), nylon, polyacrylate, polystyrene, pol- has allowed them to reach coasts all over the Infrared Spectrometry (FT-IR) technique. yester, polyethylene, and polypropylene. planet, the poles, and even the deep sea. Due The document STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF We calculate that approximately 1006 frag- to their small size, sea animals can have diffi- MICROPLASTICS POLLUTION IN MEXICAN ments are real plastic. • Fibers were the type of plastic most com- culty distinguishing microplastics from their FISH shows the results of civil society orga- monly found (98%), and the majority of mi- natural prey. nizations and Mexican scientists’ unified • Most of fragments (49%) were identified croplastics were either blue (45%) or black efforts to demonstrate how plastic pollution as modified cellulose that could still come (41%). is affecting our oceans, biodiversity, food, and from some manufactured fibers such as economy. This report exhibits the effect of mi- cotton from clothing, however this needs Fish are the group most commonly reported with croplastics in three Mexican ecoregions: The further research. microplastic presence in their stomachs, so we Gulf of California (La Paz, B.C.S.), the Gulf decided to investigate how this contamination of Mexico (Veracruz, Ver.) and the Mexican • Although most of the fish had only one reaches fish sold at local markets. Caribbean (Puerto Morelos, Q. Roo). In order plastic fragment in their stomachs, we to do this, we worked alongside fishermen’s found 45 fragments in one fish. cooperatives and visually examined the stomach contents of different commercially important fish species in each region to search for plastic fragments. WithoutFishes Plastic

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Cellophane was the dominant type of polymer found. This polymer is used to wrap gifts and food as well as in auto adhesive tapes.

The other polymers found have various The most affected region was Veracruz, by fish to the parts commonly consumed (i.e., uses including as fibers for clothing and with an average number of plastics per or- the meat), as well as possible toxic effects that textiles (nylon, polyacrylate, and polyester), ganism two times higher than the other two could diminish the quality of the fish meat. rigid plastic for containers (polystyrene and regions. This could be related to the increased These risks are especially alarming for human polypropylene), fishing equipment and ves- urban impact this site suffers, which results communities where fish is an important com- sel materials (polyacrylate and polypropylene), in a greater amount of suspended solid was- ponent of their diet and fishing activity is a electric instruments production (polyester), or te from runoff or wastewater discharge. Fish crucial part of their economy. bottles, supermarket bags, small single-use from La Paz showed the least impact from packaging, and other containers for industrial microplastic pollution, which could be due to The fish sampled in our study are mostly use (polyethylene). the region’s low population density compared fished for local consumption and are not ex- to the other regions and therefore to its lower ported for sale. Nonetheless, some of these waste and discharge generation. species are part of commercially important We found clear differen- fisheries and are included in theCarta Nacio- Our findings of microplastic in the fish sto- nal Pesquera (National Fishing Charter). Fur- ces between the regions machs do not provide direct evidence of hu- thermore, some of the exported species are man exposure to this pollution because the among the species most affected by plastic studied in the percentage stomach is not usually consumed; however, pollution. Examples include grey snapper (Lu- these plastics could act as vehicles to carry tjanus griseus), white mullet (Mugil curema), of fish with microplastic different chemicals into the marine environ- and king mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla) ment. Chemicals such as styrene, toxic metals, in Veracruz and red grouper (Ephinephelus presence as well as in the phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), polychlorinated morio) in Puerto Morelos. biphenyls (PCB), and polycyclic aromatic hy- total number of micro- drocarbons (HPA) can be intentionally added during plastic manufacturing or absorbed by Fishing is a very important economic activity in plastics and the number the plastic’s surface during its use and per- our country, and microplastic pollution has both manence in the environment. There is a po- economic implications and an important social of plastics found per tential risk of transfer of pollutants ingested component that our government should consider. organism. WithoutFishes Plastic

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Although different states and cities have Additionally, there is another type of micro- (General Health Act) to taken steps to restrict or forbid the use of sin- plastic that deserves the same or even more gle-use plastic items, our legislators must stop attention as fibers, even though they are not ban the sale, manufacture, plastic pollution from its origin through chan- as abundant: plastic microbeads. These plas- ges in the Ley General para la Prevención y tics are increasingly manufactured in order to and distribution of cosme- Gestión Integral de los Residuos (General replace natural exfoliating materials such as Law for the Prevention and Integral Mana- pumice stone, oat, and nutshells, or for use in tic products that contain gement of Waste). These changes should cosmetics like cleansers, toothpaste, and abra- Collaboration between different govern- take into account: sive exfoliants. Unlike with plastic bags, there microplastics, defined as ment agencies and with non-governmen- have been limited interventions to reduce mi- tal agencies is necessary to establish inter- 1. The responsibility of the producer. crobeads even though public support to ban any plastic 5mm in diame- vention and research programs directed to them is growing and it has inspired multina- prevent microplastic pollution and to clean 2. Single-use plastics elimination through the tional enterprises, NGOs, and politicians to ter or smaller. the oceans. ban on products and materials that cause take action. negative impacts on the environment. © Greenpeace/ Roger Grace 3. Labeling that informs consumers about Microplastic marine pollution is a problem not only the negative environmental impacts of In Mexico, a prohibition in Mexico but in many other parts of the world. the products and the proper way to dis- pose them. on microbeads could be Microplastic marine pollution is a problem 4. Prohibition of incinerating containers and possible through a modi- not only in Mexico but in many other parts packaging that can be recycled. of the world. Citizens need to realize that fication of article 269 of we can help reduce the amount of plastic that ends up on our beaches and in our seas the Ley General de Salud with actions as simple as putting garbage in the trash can or participating in beach cle- aning programs. But this is not enough. WithoutFishes Plastic

10 Plastic Fishes Without • Approximately 20% of the fish sampled in our had microplastics in their stomachs, which study had plastic in their stomachs. indicates that fishing activity could be affected by microplastic pollution. • Differences in the percent of fish with microplastics, as well as in the number and type • The current Mexican regulations must be microplastics found, varied between regions, modified in order to restrict plastic items and which seems to be related to urbanization in stop this pollution from its source. We propo- the study sites: the greater the urban im- se changes to the Ley General para la Pre- pact, the more presence of microplastics vención y Gestión Integral de los Residuos in fish. (General Law for the Prevention and Inte- gral Management of Waste) that include • Cellophane was the predominant polymer increasing the producers’ responsibility and found. It is used as wrapping for gifts and eliminating single-use plastic items, among food as well as in auto adhesive tapes. The other things. other polymers found have various uses including fibers for clothing and textiles, con- • We also propose to modify article 269 of tainers, and bottles, supermarket bags, and the Ley General de Salud (General Health small single-use packaging. Act) to forbid the sale of microbeads, another type of microplastic that is very abundant. • Commercially important fish such as white OUR mullet, king mackerel, snapper, and grouper CONCLU- SIONS 13 © Paul Hilton/ Greenpeace© Paul Hilton/

We are certain that legislative measures like those proposed here, along with environmental education and proper management of solid urban waste, will positively contribu- te to decreasing plastic pollution that affects our oceans and our economic activities, and, eventually, it would help lower the impact of our consumer consumption on biodiversity the world over.

From Greenpeace and the Center for Bio- logical Diversity, we call to action those com- panies that pollute our oceans the most to assume responsibility and commit to change their packaging practices that currently use an excessive amount of plastic. By doing so, we can significantly reduce this material from its source. WithoutFishes Plastic