When West Virginia University biology undergraduate student Isabella Tuzzio tested fish from central Appalachian streams, her research revealed microplastics in every fish she sampled. Tuzzio stated that her study, the first of its kind in Appalachia, indicates significant environmental risks and potential human health concerns.
Microplastics, defined as plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in size, can disrupt hormones and carry harmful chemicals like heavy metals and antibiotics. Evidence suggests they accumulate through the food chain, potentially reaching humans at high concentrations.
A junior from Shepherdstown in the WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, Tuzzio discovered microplastics in juvenile northern hogsucker fish from seven streams across the Cheat, Monongahela, and Ohio River watersheds. Each fish contained an average of 40 pieces of microplastics. Her findings were published with WVU Davis College faculty members Caroline Chaves Arantes and Brent Murry.
“Microplastics are coming from everyday sources like synthetic fibers from laundry and plastic beads in exfoliating face washes,” Tuzzio explained. “They’re now everywhere, from our streams to remote deserts and even the human body.”
Big Sandy Creek in Preston County had the highest concentration of microplastics. Sites with more contamination also had higher levels of E. coli bacteria and were associated with agricultural land use, suggesting wastewater runoff from farms may contribute to microplastic pollution.
“These plastics are small, but their impact is massive,” Tuzzio noted. “They carry pollutants, heavy metals, and antibiotics. And while the microplastics are spread out in smaller fish, the bigger fish eat those smaller fish. As you work your way up the food chain, there are heavily concentrated levels of these plastics.”
In humans, microplastic concentrations can interfere with biological systems and may be linked to chronic illnesses like diabetes and congenital conditions affecting developing fetuses. Studies have found microplastics in placentas, brains, and other human organs.
The particles extracted by Tuzzio’s team included fibers (accounting for 96% of all particles), fragments, sheets, and foams. Although past studies have focused on saltwater environments, this issue extends beyond oceans.
“Microplastics have been identified in animals throughout the world,” Murry stated. “And we’re still really getting a handle on how extensive the problem is.”
Future research will include additional fish species and examine precipitation or atmospheric deposits’ role in spreading microplastics throughout ecosystems.
Tuzzio emphasized public awareness as crucial for combating microplastic pollution. Solutions include recycling, using environmentally friendly detergents, installing washing machine filters, improving waste management infrastructure, and enhancing water treatment facilities.
“I think it’s definitely an emerging contaminant,” she said. “People don’t know much about it.”
Arantes added that Tuzzio’s work fills a significant gap in understanding freshwater system microplastics while highlighting links between land use, atmospheric deposition, and pollutant exposure.
