New study showcases the evidence of microplastic consumption of deep sea animals read more at here www.spinonews.com/index.php/item/1103-new-study-showcases-the-evidence-of-microplastic-consumption-of-deep-sea-animals

A new study showcases the first direct evidence of microplastic consumption by deep-sea animals.

Scientists from the University of Bristol and the University of Oxford found, ingested microplastics in hermit crabs, squat lobsters and sea cucumbers collected from depths between approximately 985 and 4,500 feet.

Microplastics have been found previously at considerable ocean depths, but this is the first time the plastic debris has been found ingested by deep-sea dwellers.

Laura Robinson, a geochemist at Bristol, said, this result astonished me and is a real reminder that plastic pollution has truly reached the furthest ends of the Earth.

Microplastic is categorized as any plastic particle smaller than 5 micrometers. Microbes are most well-known sources of microplastic pollution.

Many governments have begun banning the use of microplastics. The tiny particles are found in cosmetics and toothpaste and can leach into water sources when rinsed down the drains of sinks and showers. Microplastics can also leach from synthetic netting used in commercial fishing.

Scientists used precise forensic tests to verify the presence of microplastics in the intestines of the deep-sea animals.

 

Michelle Taylor, a zoologist at Oxford, said, "the main purpose of this research expedition was to collect microplastics from sediments in the deep ocean and we found lots of them".

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