Research: Nanoplastics accumulate in marine organisms

Plastic nanoparticles could potentially contaminate food chains, and ultimately affect human health, according to scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS). They discovered that nanoplastics are easily ingested by marine organisms, and they accumulate in the organisms over time, with a risk of being transferred up the food chain. It is estimated that the oceans may already contain over 150 million tonnes of plastic, and each year, about 8 million tonnes of plastic will end up in the ocean. Plastics do not degrade easily. In the marine environment, plastics are usually broken down into smaller pieces by the sun, waves, wind and microbial action (Press Release NUS, 31 May 2018).
Click here for the press release.
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