Ocean pollutants in tuna weaken the immune system

by Stepy — April 18, 2016

Ocean pollutants in tuna weaken the immune system, according to a team of oceanography scientists in California.

Because of human pollution, the oceans are in a serious crisis. According to National Geographic:

“Common man-made pollutants that reach the ocean include pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers, detergents, oil, sewage, plastics, and other solids. Many of these pollutants collect at the ocean’s depths, where they are consumed by small marine organisms and introduced into the global food chain. Scientists are even discovering that pharmaceuticals ingested by humans but not fully processed by our bodies are eventually ending up in the fish we eat.”

The new study on tuna further confirms these concerns. The scientists found that long-lasting environmental pollutants can weaken the body’s natural defense against toxins.

The team of scientists, led by Amro Hamdoun of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, tested how 10 common pollutants affected an immune protein.

Some of the pollutants found in tuna included upholstery flame retardant PBDE, pesticides such as dieldrin and DDT, and PCB, an industrial chemical.

The immune protein they tested, called P-gp, is responsible for removing toxins from the body. However, the team found that all 10 of the pollutants in tuna weakened P-gp’s function.

“When we eat contaminated fish, we could be reducing the effectiveness of this critical defense system in our bodies,” said Hamdoun in a statement.

The study authors concluded: “The results demonstrate the potential for specific binding and inhibition of mammalian P-gp by ubiquitous congeners of persistent organic pollutants present in fish and other foods, and argue for further consideration of transporter inhibition in the assessment of the risk of exposure to these chemicals.”

“We are the only species that can influence entire food chains and habitats,” said Jacob James of the Waitt Foundation, the study’s funder, in a statement. “We must act more responsibly in the design and use of chemicals in our environment.”

The study showing that ocean pollutants in tuna weaken the immune system was published in the journal Science Advances.

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REFERENCES:
1. “Ocean Pollutants Found in Tuna Can Weaken the Immune System.” TakePart. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.
2. “Global Marine Pollutants Inhibit P-glycoprotein: Environmental Levels, Inhibitory Effects, and Cocrystal Structure.” Science Advances. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.
3. “Marine Pollution.” National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.
4. “What Is the Biggest Source of Pollution in the Ocean?” National Ocean Service. NOAA, n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.