Microplastics found in wild mammals' blood more than 40 miles from human infrastructure
Animals, like humans, are taking up increasing amounts of tiny plastic particles. Such microplastics are demonstrably hazardous to many species under experimental conditions, and it is suspected that they may also pose a threat to animals in the wild. While data about microplastic concentrations in the terrestrial environment exist, it has not yet been clear if...
Key Takeaways
- Animals, like humans, are taking up increasing amounts of tiny plastic particles.
- Such microplastics are demonstrably hazardous to many species under experimental conditions, and it is suspected that they may also pose a threat to animals in the wild.
- While data about microplastic concentrations in the terrestrial environment exist, it has not yet been clear if higher exposure also translates into higher microplastic accumulation in individual animals.
Animals, like humans, are taking up increasing amounts of tiny plastic particles. Such microplastics are demonstrably hazardous to many species under experimental conditions, and it is suspected that they may also pose a threat to animals in the wild. While data about microplastic concentrations in the terrestrial environment exist, it has not yet been clear if higher exposure also translates into higher microplastic accumulation in individual animals. A new paper published in Nature now confirms this link.
Original Publisher Attribution
This summary was curated from Phys.org.