“In the next 10-20 years it may not be safe to eat fish” – Microplastics in Greek seas

Microplastics in the heart, in the human brain, in the liver, or in the kidneys… International scientific reporting on the subject is steadily increasing—almost as rapidly as the microscopic plastic particles accumulating in our bodies. And the outlook is not optimistic. The human body is contaminated by microplastics in various ways. They have been found in blood, semen, breast milk, the placenta, and bone marrow, with their effects on human health still largely unknown…

A recent study by the University of Portland in Oregon found that microplastics were present in 99% of seafood samples tested—including 180 out of 182 samples purchased from stores or collected from fishing boats in the region. The findings reinforce concerns about ocean pollution and the infiltration of microplastics into the food chain.

But what is happening in Greek seas? In recent years, scientists studying the phenomenon in our country have identified microplastics both in the marine environment and in fish intended for consumption. How extensive is the problem, and what does the data from Greek scientific research show so far?