Greenpeace in health warning after plastic found in a fish species popular for Chinese meals
Fragments were found in 60 per cent of wild flathead grey mullet examined by The Education University of Hong Kong – prompting Greenpeace warning over potential of putting toxins on the eating table
Plastic fragments have been found in nearly two-thirds of a fish species commonly consumed in Chinese meals, prompting a green group to warn on Monday about the potential environmental and health risks of pollution.
Microplastics were discovered in 60 per cent of wild flathead grey mullet examined by The Education University of Hong Kong, with an average of 4.3 fragments in each fish. One had even ingested 80 pieces. These plastics are used to make single-use cutlery, straws, condiment bags, cups and bottles, the researchers said.
The discovery followed a shock study by US-based non-profit Orb Media, which found 93 per cent of 259 bottled water samples from nine countries contained microplastic particles.
“Mudflats and sediments under the sea are like restaurants for marine species,” Greenpeace campaigner Chan Hall-sion said. “When both of them are polluted with microplastics, that will become the food for the flathead grey mullet and other types of marine animals.”