Lugworms find microplastic pollution not to their tastes

Research has revealed the unpalatable situation confronting the lugworm when it is exposed to high levels of microplastic in ocean sediments.
A study by the University of Exeter has shown that elevated levels cause lugworms to eat less, and suffer from reduced energy levels. While a complementary study from Plymouth University has shown that ingesting microplastics can give the marine animals a harmful diet of hydrocarbons, antimicrobials and flame retardants. The two reports are published in the Cell Press journal Current Biology and highlight the threats facing the worms, who play a key ecological role as an important source of food for other animals.
Click here for the Exeter article.
Click here for the Plymouth article (652 kB).

This news item is also included in our monthly overview, the NVC Members-only Update. If you have any questions, please contact us: info@nvc.nl, +31-(0)182-512411.