Pollutants in soft plastic baits harm anglers and the environment
Common fishing lures release dangerous phthalates and endocrine disruptors, according to a recent study by the Thünen Institute.
The study examined commercially available soft plastic baits for pollutants and interactions with the environment. (Image: Thünen Institute/Marko Freese)
Anglers and environmentalists are increasingly concerned about soft plastic fishing lures. These baits are often lost while fishing and then lie in the water or silt, with the loss raising concerns about environmental and health risks. An interdisciplinary research team investigated these fears in a study. The team consisted of scientists from the Thünen Institutes of Baltic Sea Fisheries and Fisheries Ecology, Toronto Metropolitan University and the University of Saskatchewan under the leadership of the Thünen Institute.
The scientists published the study in the renowned journal Science of The Total Environment. The study sheds light on the possible effects of plastic bait on the environment and human health. As reported by Informationsdienst Wissenschaft, the research team analyzed 16 commercially available models of soft plastic baits, focusing on the release of water-soluble plastic additives, including plasticizers. The results show that 10 of the 16 lures released various harmful phthalates over the 61-day observation period. In addition, the team discovered 45 poorly degradable, mobile and toxic plastic additives. When a subsample of ten baits was tested for possible estrogenic activity, one extract showed hormonal activity, which is presumably due to unknown additives.
Lead and plastic bait as an environmental risk
When asked by heise online, Dr. Marko Freese, who was responsible for the chemical analyses, said that in comparison to the interactions of lead, the effects of additives in soft plastic baits have not yet been investigated anywhere. "This is a first. The environmental impact of lead, on the other hand, has been very well researched," Freese told heise online. It is known that lead, like most heavy metals, can be very toxic. This is particularly true when lead is absorbed directly into the body, where it can have a physiological effect. For example, direct mortalities have been detected in various species of waterfowl such as swans and ducks when they have eaten small lead weights while digging. "These are usually lead shot, such as those used for fishing or hunting with shotguns," explains Freese.
The research team conducted a survey among anglers in Germany in parallel to the chemical analysis. Dr. Wolf-Christian Lewin told heise online that 191 anglers were interviewed for the survey, 181 of whom took part in the study. The majority of participants expressed concern about the ecological impact of soft plastic lures and called for labeling of ingredients and legal restrictions on toxic substances.
The survey also revealed that artificial lures are often lost in practice when fishing. Following the study, the scientists see a need for further research. They are calling on the industry to develop environmentally friendly fishing lures that are harmless to health. A European regulation is planned regarding the use of fishing lead. Alternatives for lead weights are already available on the market, as Lewin emphasizes to heise online.
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