Fish are eating microplastic like junk food, and it’s killing them
- 8 years ago
UPPSALA, SWEDEN — About 8 million tonnes of plastic are leaked into the ocean annually, and its impact on the fragile underwater ecosystem has scientists worried.
The BBC reports that a new study from Sweden’s Uppsala University has found that young fish are eating microplastic like junk food — and it’s killing them.
Microplastic particles result from the fragmentation of large plastic waste, or from tiny manufactured plastic, such as microbeads in cosmetic products. Measuring less than 5 millimeters across, the particles flow through waterways and into the ocean, accumulating in shallow coastal areas.
Larval perch that normally feed on plankton have been found to be actively choosing the microplastic as food. This has resulted in their stunted growth and sudden disregard for the smell of predators. The ability to respond to the smell of predators and flee is typically innate in young fish.
When placed in tanks with their natural predator, perch that ate plastic were preyed upon four times faster than those that did not. All were dead within 48 hours, reports the Deccan Chronicle.
Scientists warn that the harmful effects of plastic is not limited to fish, and may be felt throughout the food chain.
The study, published in the journal ‘Science’, is an important step in understanding the silent threat that plastic wastes poses on marine creatures.
According to Chemistry World, the U.S. has already put a ban on the production of microbeads in personal care products, effective July 2017. Pressure is building for other countries, especially in Europe, to follow suit.
The BBC reports that a new study from Sweden’s Uppsala University has found that young fish are eating microplastic like junk food — and it’s killing them.
Microplastic particles result from the fragmentation of large plastic waste, or from tiny manufactured plastic, such as microbeads in cosmetic products. Measuring less than 5 millimeters across, the particles flow through waterways and into the ocean, accumulating in shallow coastal areas.
Larval perch that normally feed on plankton have been found to be actively choosing the microplastic as food. This has resulted in their stunted growth and sudden disregard for the smell of predators. The ability to respond to the smell of predators and flee is typically innate in young fish.
When placed in tanks with their natural predator, perch that ate plastic were preyed upon four times faster than those that did not. All were dead within 48 hours, reports the Deccan Chronicle.
Scientists warn that the harmful effects of plastic is not limited to fish, and may be felt throughout the food chain.
The study, published in the journal ‘Science’, is an important step in understanding the silent threat that plastic wastes poses on marine creatures.
According to Chemistry World, the U.S. has already put a ban on the production of microbeads in personal care products, effective July 2017. Pressure is building for other countries, especially in Europe, to follow suit.