Carbon Geochemistry Laboratory scientists EM. Galimov Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry. IN AND. Vernadsky (GEOKHI) RAS found that plastic materials that decompose under the influence of seawater can accumulate heavy metals. Ingestion of such pieces of plastic causes various diseases and mutations in fish and other marine animals. They can then enter the human body along the food chain and harm it. This was reported to socialbites.ca by the Russian Ministry of Education and Science.
“Our studies showed greater accumulation of lead, molybdenum and chromium. The accumulation of heavy metals leads to the development of malignant diseases, the emergence of mutations and the birth of children with developmental disorders. The increase in the concentration of toxic metals leads to chronic non-communicable diseases that reduce life expectancy. However, for more validated results, this process needs to be systematically studied over multiple plastics and sampling sites.” EM. Galimova GEOKHI RAS Olga Kuznetsova.
The authors studied various types of biodegradable, “non-biological” and naturally aged (collected off the Mediterranean coasts) plastics. The greatest changes in isotopic composition occur in biodegradable plastics. Most often disposable tableware, garbage bags, cosmetic sponges and food packaging are made from them.
As it turned out, plastic particles tend to accumulate metals when interacting with seawater, while plastic polymers of plant origin, for example, corn and potato starch, soybean, cellulose polymers show a greater affinity for metals. What’s more, some plastic materials contain significant amounts of metal even before they react with seawater.
According to Olga Kuznetsova, all metals are absorbed by plastic. Many heavy metals such as iron, copper, zinc and molybdenum are involved in biological processes and are required in certain amounts for the functioning of plants and animals. But other toxic metals – lead, mercury and cadmium – do not play a beneficial role in biological processes and can be very dangerous to animals because they can leach into seawater. This causes disease, mutation and death in sea creatures.