Beach plastics on Walney could contain 'chemicals and toxins' that enter human foods

Microplastics are ingested by shellfish and can move up the food chain to humans increasing the amount of chemical and toxins in our food, according to a conservation officer.

Dr Emily Baxter, senior marine conservation officer with Cumbria Wildlife Trust, said: "Unfortunately this is the third time in three months that this kind of ‘microplastic spill’ has been reported.

"The first report in the latest stream of incidents was received on the Fylde Coast, in Lancashire, in the middle of January but unfortunately it was only a matter of days before the inundation of microplastics spread across the Lancashire coastline and across to Cumbria, washing up on Walney. Numerous beaches across the area have now been affected by a significant amount of multi-coloured plastic fragments arriving on the incoming tides.

"The microplastics that are washing up are not the nurdles that we often see but small pieces of what looks like shredded plastic, measuring less than 5mm across."

WILFLIFE: Cumbria Wildlife Trust's Marine Conservation Officer, Emily Baxter

At the moment, the origin of the microplastic is still unknown but numerous organisations have come together to collect and analyse the samples.

"This kind of plastic pollution incident could have a serious impact on our wildlife," Dr Baxter continued.

"The ingestion of microplastics can really affect the whole foodweb and enter the human food chain. Tiny animals called zooplankton, and other animals that filter small particles out of the water, such as shellfish, are at risk of eating these microplastics.

ISSUE: Microplastics on Walney. Credit: Beth Mallalieu

"These animals are very important food sources for many larger animals like fish, seals and birds and plastics. When they eat microplastics, they then eat less of their normal food, or their digestion can get blocked completely. This means that they get less energy from their diet for growth and reproduction, or die through lack of nutrition. This then has a knock-on impact further up the foodweb. In addition, microplastics carry chemicals and toxins - often from manufacturing or processing - that can then be transferred into the environment and throughout the foodweb to other animals and humans.

"Unfortunately due to the size of these plastic fragments, it is extremely difficult to effectively remove them from the beach, either by hand or using mechanical equipment. As a result, they will continue to wash in and out on the tides, and may be dispersed over a larger area.

"However, we have had a great response from local people, sharing information about this incident on social media. LOVEmyBEACH are collating report of locations, dates, and photos through social media or their website, so we would urge anyone who does come across this kind of microplastic debris on the beach to report their sighting. This will help us to understand the extent of the issue and provide evidence that may be invaluable for taking action once the source the pollution has been identified."