A high school program at the American Museum of Natural History engages students in scientific research, focusing on the impact of microplastics found in aquatic life. Students, led by ichthyologist Ryan Thoni, analyzed historical fish specimens, revealing that microplastics are increasingly present in fish collected near urban areas. Each specimen's gastrointestinal tract provides insights into pollution levels, highlighting a concerning trend of plastic debris infiltrating ecosystems. This investigation becomes imperative as early research suggests potential health risks of microplastics to humans and animals alike.
Mia and her peers were matched with Ryan Thoni, an ichthyologist and curatorial associate in the museum's division of vertebrate zoology. Thoni's project to gather information on when and how microplastics began to enter the environment relied on the museum's vast collection of fish specimens dating from more than a century ago - some 3.2 million in total.
It was kind of shocking to see just how many we did find. We weren't expecting to find more than two to three per fish but in some fish, we would find over 15.
Concern about the tiny pieces of plastic debris has grown in the last few years, along with early-stage research on the health risks they pose. The particles are found in human blood, breast milk and even the brain.
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