I am quoting below an article written by my SUAKCREM research colleague, Abner Bucol, on a very important issue of microplastic pollution, which is now recognized as a health hazard affecting humans and aquatic animals.
Since the 1970s, scientists have already warned of the dangers of plastic pollution, yet we are still facing the same problem. A recent study in 2017 by Roland Geyer and co-authors estimated that 8,300 million metric tons (Mt) of “virgin plastics” have been produced to date. As of 2015, approximately 6,300 Mt of plastic waste had been generated, only around 9% of which had been recycled, 12% was incinerated, and 79% accumulated in landfills or the natural environment. If production trends and waste management continues, an estimated 12,000 Mt of plastics will eventually end up in landfills or in natural environment. It can be recalled that plastic wastes are not decomposed at all but only degraded in smaller fragments called “microplastics”. There is a growing interest in terms of research on microplastics for two main reasons: 1) they can accumulate and remain stable in the aquatic environment and 2) they can reach human food sources (e.g. seafoods) and eventually may affect human metabolism.
Moreover, as plastic wastes (especially single-used, disposable plastics) accumulate and degrade in the environment, there are other sources of microplastics that remained unmanaged. For example, recent findings revealed that the so-called “microfibers” (that are slough-off from clothing by washing) and “microbeads” (from cosmetic products such as facial wash) are small enough (<500 microns) to be trapped by any water treatment facility (if there is any facility at all). These microfibers and microbeads are within the same size range as most microscopic organisms that zooplankton often are able to ingest. Zooplanktivores such as sardines, which form part of the major source of food and income among Filipino fishermen, might consume these microplastics. What is even alarming is that in Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines, smaller planktivores such as sardines and silversides are often eaten whole (i.e. without degutting). Some locals even consumed salted fish guts (locally known as dayok). This is of great concern because aside from containing potentially hazardous substances (e.g. bisphenol A or BPA, a hormone-mimicking polymer), microplastics can serve as carrier of other hazardous pollutants such as heavy metals. What alarmed us is the apparent paucity of published studies being done in the Philippines about this problem. Although advocates kept on talking publicly about the general dangers of plastic pollution, Filipino scientists need to respond and work in a collaborative manner. For this reason, National Scientist A.C. Alcala organized a brief meeting last Friday (January 18th) among selected researchers based in Dumaguete City who are at present pursuing studies on microplastics. I learned that so far undergraduate students from the two universities in Dumaguete (Negros Oriental State University led by Dr. Edwin Romano and Silliman University advised by Visiting Scientist Dr. Jorge Emmanuel and Dr. Robert Guino-o of Silliman Biology Department) are pursuing microplastic studies on fish, mollusk, and marine sediments. Financial constraints and other equipment concerns, however, may jeopardize the outcome of these on-going studies. In response, my research center offered seed money for the NORSU team to continue with their sampling and quantification of microplastics, with the assurance that they present their findings in two scientific meetings being organized by my colleague at the National Academy of Science & Technology (NAST) Academician Dr. Fabian Dayrit, this May and July 2019.
As a leading environmental research center, SUAKCREM also hosted last year two American students conducting studies on microplastics in fish from Arizona State University and Old Dominion University under our collaborative project (PIRE) with Dr. Kent Carpenter of Old Dominion University, USA. In addition, Dr. Beth Polidoro of Arizona State University will be conducting a more detailed study on microplastics as part of her Fulbright Fellowship in collaboration with Silliman University from February to June of this year.
It is our hope that Silliman University and Negros Oriental State University can contribute relevant information on microplastic pollution based on actual research studies in our marine and fresh-water environments.
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Author’s email: [email protected]
