Microplastics threaten the offspring and their food source

Tiny particles of plastic floating on the sea will be eaten by the fry. This can cause a reduction in the amount of fish on Earth, affecting the food chain of animals.

According to the Huffington Post, fry (fry) researchers off the coast of Hawaii, the United States, published a disturbing discovery on November 11. Accordingly, the tiny plastic particles in the seawater have been mixed into the food of the fry.

Some fish have eaten these plastic particles. Scientists believe that eating these resins puts children at higher risk of death.

Micro plastic is easily swallowed by baby fish.(Photo: NOAA Fisheries).

Initially, scientists only wanted to study the habits of some species of fish including swordfish, flying fish . in the first weeks of the growth cycle. However, on the first sampling, scientists found more plastic than fish.

The research was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

Most fry feed on phytoplankton material in the waters near Hawaii. But the existence of microscopic plastic particles threatens their lives.

The team removed 658 larvae and recorded 8.6% had eaten plastic.

Seabirds die from eating plastic.(Photo: AP).

An estimated 8 million tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean each year. This waste will break down into small particles over time. Each plastic particle with a size of 5 mm is called microplastic . They are similar in size to plankton, the main food of fry.

Previously, whales and many adult birds also died after ingesting large quantities of indigestible plastic. With an undeveloped digestive system, fry when eating plastic particles have much higher mortality.

Eating plastic can cause intestinal obstruction, toxin accumulation and malnutrition in fish, thereby threatening the food ecosystem of marine organisms and humans.

1. Detection of microscopic plastic particles in a series of bottled water products
2. For the first time detected microplastic microscopic particles in human feces