Posted on 04/26/2022 7:41:45 AM PDT by algore
Disease-causing parasites could be pouring into oceans and infecting humans and wildlife after hitching a ride on microplastics, a new study warns.
In lab tests, California experts found three different pathogens adhere to surfaces of microplastics – tiny plastic pieces under 0.2 of an inch (5mm) in diameter.
These pathogens form a biofilm – a slimy layer made from a community of microbes – making them ultra-resilient to any rough waters.
By 'hitchhiking' on microplastics, harmful microbes can disperse throughout the ocean, reaching places a land parasite would normally never be found.
This can ultimately lead to fish and seafood becoming contaminated, potentially infecting humans when caught for consumption, experts warn
Study co-author Chelsea Rochman, a plastic-pollution expert and assistant professor of ecology at the University of Toronto, said there are several ways humans can help reduce the impacts of microplastics in the ocean.
She notes that microfibres are commonly shed in washing machines and can reach waterways via wastewater systems.
'This work demonstrates the importance of preventing sources of microplastics to our oceans,' said Rochman.
'Mitigation strategies include filters on washing machines, filters on dryers, bioretention cells or other technologies to treat stormwater, and best management practices to prevent microplastic release from plastic industries and construction sites.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
...or not
Out of curiosity I looked up which counties dump the most plastic into the ocean. Surprisingly, Denmark is #1 and Malta is #2.
I kid, of course. India is #1 and China is #2. Good luck trying to get either country to obey any environmental rules.
Bad news for Tide-pods.
On reading the first three words in the headline I though the article was going to be about the invasion of our southern border.
Being an EVIL conservative, I regularly go to Costco and buy huge boxes of plastic knives and drinking straws and then I go out on my yacht and dump it all in the ocean.
Microplastics.
Vs. the vast rivers of untreated sewage and garbage and chemicals flowing out of Asia and Africa, completely unfettered by environmental concerns?
The World is open things can go everywhere , always have
Those are macro plastics
I am guessing you have something else micro ?
So bacteria have never found a way to hitch a ride on bits of wood and logs carried downstream to the ocean for over 3 billion years but the very moment plastics were invented they find a way. Incredible!
Are we all gonna die again?
Lolthem plastic comsuming maltans ruiningmthe world again 😆
With all the millions of tons of sewage spells that California has I’m not surprised.
“Disease-causing parasites could be pouring into oceans and infecting wildlife and humans after hitching a ride on MICROPLASTICS”
i’m purging my household of microplastics as we speak, but so far the job has been EXTREMELY difficult because these little suckers are so difficult to see ...
“Being an EVIL conservative, I regularly go to Costco and buy huge boxes of plastic knives and drinking straws and then I go out on my yacht and dump it all in the ocean.”
I’m sorry ... that’s not good enough ... you’ll need to run them through your micro-grinder to make them into microplastics BEFORE you dump ... so you better get busy ...
Wait..
What?
0.2 inches? 1/2 a centimeter?
This is not “micro” plastics. This barely qualifies for “Small” plastics.
My rule thumb is, if I can see it and pick it up, it ain’t minny, micro, or nano.
Incinerate and be done with it. We already have the solution:
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Environment/Southeast-Asia-s-trash-Japan-Inc.-s-power-generating-treasure
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