Because biodegradable plastics hurt fish, a recent study from the University of Otago suggests they may not be the answer to plastic pollution.
Marine life is known to be impacted by microplastics originating from petroleum, but nothing is known about the effects of biodegradable substitutes. The University of Otago Research Grant supported the study, which was published in Science of the Total Environment and is the first to evaluate the effects of petroleum-derived and biodegradable plastic on wild fish. The fish’s ability to escape, swim regularly, and use aerobic metabolism were all adversely impacted by petroleum-derived plastic exposure, according to lead author Ashleigh Hawke, a Master of Science graduate from Otago’s Department of Marine Science. On the other hand, individuals that were exposed to bioplastics simply experienced a decrease in their maximum escape speed.