What people discarded into the ocean is now resurfacing: troubling findings have been discovered in seafood.

The Pacific Northwest is renowned for its seafood, but scientists have now made a concerning discovery: particles of waste and pollutants have been found floating within the edible tissues of nearly every fish and shellfish caught for sale, according to Science Alert.

More than 150 years ago, humanity invented plastic, and it now seems to have permeated the planet. Tiny plastic particles have previously been detected in soil, water, and even air. Now, much like salmon returning to their spawning grounds, ocean plastic appears to be returning to its creators.

During the study, researchers examined 182 marine specimens, including rockfish, lingcod, chinook salmon, Pacific herring, Pacific lamprey, and pink shrimp. The results were quite alarming: only two of the 182 specimens showed no signs of suspicious particles. Researchers believe that the tissues of seafood contained fibers of dyed cotton, cellulose from paper and cardboard, as well as microscopic pieces of plastic.

According to co-author of the study, ecotoxicologist Suzanne Brander from Oregon State University, the findings are quite troubling, as microfibers seem to migrate from the intestines to other tissues, such as muscles. Scientists are uncertain but fear that this could have widespread implications for other organisms, including humans.

Recent research has also shown that people who consume more seafood generally carry more microplastics in their bodies. This is especially true for those who eat bivalves, such as oysters and mussels.

It's worth noting that how long plastic remains in the body and its effects are still unknown. Moreover, scientists insist that this issue requires immediate investigation. Brander and her colleagues do not advocate for a complete cessation of seafood consumption; however, they emphasize that people and scientists need to have a better understanding of the potential dangers.

Studies indicate that particles of paint, soot, and microplastics have spread across the planet to the extent that these pollutants have been found in air, water, and many other products beyond seafood.

According to ecologist Eliza Granek from Portland State University, when people dispose of and use products that release plastic, its microscopic particles inevitably enter the environment and are absorbed by other organisms, which ultimately end up on our plates.

The analysis conducted in Oregon is actually the first of its kind in the region. It also demonstrates that microplastics have alarmingly widespread distribution in samples of edible seafood.