Scientists warn of serious risks lurking in the Great Lakes: 'Highest reported worldwide'

The Great Lakes are some of the most beautiful water bodies in North America. However, residents might say they are far less lovely now, given the health concerns swimmers might face from microplastics. 

What's happening?

The outdoor advice website Advnture recently raised awareness of the dangers of hard-to-see contaminants.

Per the site's report, the Great Lakes Science Advisory Board recently released an analysis in response to concerns about how microplastics carry "negative ecological, human health and socioeconomic impacts." 

The reporting focuses on ecological impacts of managing the lakes, but the conclusions suggest that anyone eating fish from the lakes could be exposed to high levels of microplastics. The situation is reportedly worse in Lakes Ontario and Michigan, which have a lot of visitors.

While the board did not point out a risk for swimming, Advnture indicated a concern for those entering the water as well, as scientists have separately linked microplastics with a risk for entering the body through consumption, inhalation, or skin contact (especially through sweat glands and wounds), citing microplastics as associated with long-term ailments like colon cancer, infertility, and respiratory issues. 

The board's report did not directly look at human health impacts and focused on ecological ones, though it follows that people who eat fish from the Great Lakes should be especially cautious, as "the microplastic levels in Great Lakes fish are among the 'highest reported worldwide,'" per the report.  

Why is this concerning?

The Great Lakes are popular recreation destinations and local treasures, but this report puts the Great Lakes's reputation at stake, potentially harming people's connectivity with nature and painting a worrying picture for the future of the tourism industry.

Even though 80% of shoppers want products from sustainable companies, per a Business of Sustainability Index report cited by The Plastek Group, the news report highlights how pervasive plastic has become in our society. 

Unfortunately, plastics are mostly derived from dirty fuels, and they don't fully degrade on a meaningful timescale — though larger plastics do break down into microplastics. Scientists are finding these in soil and water, which raises further questions about whether our food and water supplies have become contaminated with dangerous levels of microplastics. 

What's being done about microplastics? 

Governments around the world are taking action to clean up plastic pollution, including the U.S. state of California and the European Union. Additionally, many researchers are working on solutions to remove microplastics from water. 

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You can also take action to avoid contributing to the growing problem of plastic pollution. Swap those single-use plastic products for reusable plastic-free alternatives. Volunteering for community cleanups can also help keep community recreation areas pristine. 

Editor's note: A previous version of this article attributed the board's report with concerns around microplastic exposure from swimming, but while the board's report did mention how organisms can absorb microplastics through their tissues, it did not express this concern for human swimming. The article has been updated to indicate this as a side concern due to studies suggesting microplastics can enter the human body through skin contact, particularly through sweat glands or wounds, and not as a concern expressed by the report itself.

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