– We found plastic in the gills and stomach. It may not be dangerous now, but it could be a disaster in the long run, says Nora Gaarn Skogen, 16 and a first-year student.
This week, students at the sustainability line at Spjelkavika upper secondary school in Ålesund dissected ten whiting to see if they contained microplastics.
PLASTIC IN WHITENING: Teacher Linn Lervik Haugsmoen and pupil Nora Gaarn Skogen demonstrate the special light that makes microplastics light up. Photo: Private
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The tragedy of the commons
At school, they have learned about the “tragedy of the commons” in sustainability.
– Overfishing is one thing, but our plastic consumption can help destroy something good for us – the sea and the fish – when the plastic is thrown into nature. We may not see the problem now, but in the long term the microplastics can cause many fish to struggle to breathe, they can become brain damaged and lose their appetite, she says and continues:
– It can lead to the extinction of species. It could be a sudden disaster that we haven’t thought about, says Skogen.
The students attend the sustainability, innovation and technology track, which collaborates with NTNU and the Atlanterhavsparken in Ålesund. This year’s project is about learning research methods and seeing if there are microplastics in the whiting. The fish species has been brought up from Aspevågen in Ålesund.
– It is in the middle of Ålesund and an area where we think there may be a lot of plastic in the sea. Both what comes from the sea and from the city, says teacher Haugsmoen and continues:
– Plastic does not break down, but turns into tiny particles that can clog the fish’s gills. Our horror scenario is that this goes into the fish, which is then eaten by another, and which eventually enters the food chain.
PROJECT MICROPLAST: On Friday, the sustainability students had to dissect each whiting, and then check whether it had microplastics in its gills or stomach. Photo: Heidi Bostad Roaldsand
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Plastic in placenta
The Bærekraft line has an extra hour a week, where the students, among other things, get to explore new technology and innovation that can contribute to a more sustainable society.
– I am very concerned with sustainability and want to work towards a better and greener future for everyone, not just for a few. And it is very exciting to do these experiments and learn more about biology and about fish and plastic in the sea, says student Skogen.
Jakob Bonnevie Cyvin is taking a PhD on plastics and microplastics at NTNU and supervises the students.
– That they found microplastics on the gills is not surprising. If you can’t find it, it’s because you haven’t searched thoroughly enough, or with the right methods. Plastic is everywhere. It has been found in lung tissue, in the placenta, in the bloodstream… In beer, food and water from the store, says Cyvin.
RESEARCHER ON PLASTICS: Jakob Bonnevie Cyvin is writing a PhD on plastics and microplastics – and also supervises the sustainability students from Spjelkavik upper secondary school. Photo: Private
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Consumes less
At the same time, Cyvin is concerned about “not overdramatising”.
– We know little about the effects of plastic. It is difficult to know what amount of concentration is dangerous. But the plastic discoveries create enormous interest among the students and I hope we can use it as a starting point to realize that it is the system that is the problem, says Cyvin.
Reducing consumption is Cyvin’s first advice to prevent microplastics in nature. Otherwise, car driving and artificial turf fields are by far the biggest sources of microplastics. In Norway, we release around 20,000 tonnes of microplastics into nature each year, according to Framtiden i våre händer.
– I try to make choices in everyday life that mean I don’t use too much plastic. Otherwise, I don’t usually buy a lot of things, but I could probably be even better, says student Skogen.
SUSTAINABLE COOPERATION: Students Hans Håvold, Samuel Lillestøl, William Pedersen Glanville, Svein Harald Ruud Schmidt and Teodor André Nerås attend Spjelkavika’s sustainability line, which collaborates with Atlanterhavsparken (pictured) and NTNU. Photo: Linn Lervik Haugsmoen
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Sustainability everywhere
The ten students involved in the project hope to be able to work with technology that can remove microplastics in the future.
– The students are slightly above average, both theoretically good and interested in the problem. So they delve a little extra and have sustainability in all subjects, says teacher Haugsmoen.
She is very happy about the collaboration with NTNU and Atlanterhavsparken.
– We are a public school and do not have much money. That’s why it’s great that Atlanterhavsparken stands up and that NTNU spends time guiding our students, she says enthusiastically.
