The tiny plastic particles polluting the seas are not only orally ingested by marine creatures, but also enter their systems through their gills, according to a new study led by the University of Exeter. Scientists also discovered that when micro-plastics are drawn in through this method they take over six times longer to leave the body compared with standard digestion. According to lead author Dr Andrew Watts of the University of Exeter, many studies on micro-plastics only consider ingestion as a route of uptake into animals. The results of this study stress that other routes, such as ventilation could be as, or more important. If these plastics are retained longer within the animal then there is more chance of them being passed up the food chain.
展开▼
