Plankton are worsening the ocean plastic crisis: study

Research reveals that plankton called rotifers can rapidly break down microplastics into nanoplastics in just a day, producing over 300,000 particles smaller than one micron. These nanoplastics poses heightened environmental and health risks due to its ability to enter the bloodstream and lungs more readily. The study emphasises the alarming speed at which plastic proliferates, shedding light on the overlooked pathway of plastic degradation by organisms such as rotifers. The findings underscore the urgent need to comprehend the long-term impact of plastic pollution and its intricate pathways in various ecosystems. (Scientific American)