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Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumPlastic pollution: Scientists' plea on threat to ocean giants
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-42920383Plastic pollution: Scientists' plea on threat to ocean giants
By Helen Briggs
BBC News
3 hours ago
Scientists are calling for research on the impacts of microplastics on whales, sharks and rays that strain tiny food, like plankton, out of seawater. They say the ocean giants face "significant risks" from microplastics. Estimates suggest some whales may be ingesting hundreds of fragments of plastic a day.
The Gulf of Mexico, the Mediterranean Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Coral Triangle are priorities for monitoring, according to a review of studies.
Researchers from the US, Australia and Italy looked at data on threats to large filter feeders from microplastics. These small plastic pieces less than five millimetres long can be harmful to the ocean and aquatic life. Contamination from microplastics has the potential to further reduce the population sizes of the large filter feeders, they say. Yet, there is very little research being carried out into the risks.
(snip)
Possible risks include reduced nutritional uptake and damage to the digestive system when microplastics are ingested, she said. In addition, toxin exposure through plastic ingestion could affect many biological processes, such as growth and reproduction, putting filter feeding populations "under even more strain", she added.
The study, published in the journal Trends in Ecology and Evolution, argues that large filter feeders, many of which are "charismatic and economically important species", should be prioritised for further research into risks from microplastics.
(snip)
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Plastic pollution: Scientists' plea on threat to ocean giants (Original Post)
nitpicker
Feb 2018
OP
What the hell have we done to the land, sea and air of this planet while also
democratisphere
Feb 2018
#1
democratisphere
(17,235 posts)1. What the hell have we done to the land, sea and air of this planet while also
jeopardizing all living species in those environments. Humans are solely at fault, damn US!
secondwind
(16,903 posts)2. We have five grandkids with another on the way. This is too sad for words.
democratisphere
(17,235 posts)3. I so agree with you!
There are no words or excuses!