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Old 11-22-2008, 04:14 AM   #8 (permalink)
missing
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Quote:
Originally Posted by funchy View Post
I learned something interesting recently. There is a massive amount of plastic floating in the open ocean. The organisms that ingest it, if they don't die, pass on the chemicals to the predator which eats them. These chemicals move up the food chain into the ocean fish people eat. We know many of the chemicals in plastic are not health for a person to eat. Therefore there is mounting worry about this growing health hazard.

What do you think? Is it a real problem? Why isn't anyone doing anything about it?
I don't know but I've read that fish are like sponges when it comes to absorbing toxins, and our oceans are pretty damn toxic. It's truly unfortunate because otherwise seafood contains so many great things for us health wise. I'm particularly worried about mercury contamination. It's best to eat lower on the food chain, so a prey fish like sardines is less an issue, but tuna, a predator, can pose problems. Swordfish, I remember reading, were the worst for mercury. Something like salmon (which i love) is in between, though on the less harmful side. Shell fish are generally bad news, which sucks cause I love oysters, shrimp, etc! Thankfully that stuff is expensive so I don't have to stress out about not eating it, as I simply can't afford it! Once or twice a year I like to go to an expensive restaurant and gouge on toxic raw seafood. But I don't make it a regular habit.

Interesting stuff with the plastics, I will have to look more into it. Thanks for posting!
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