New research: Pathogens can hitch a ride on plastic to reach the sea
Microplastics are a pathway for pathogens on land to reach the ocean, with likely consequences for human and wildlife health, according to a study from the University of California, Davis. The study, published today in the journal Scientific Reports, is the first to connect microplastics in the ocean with land-based pathogens. It found that microplastics can make it easier for disease-causing pathogens to concentrate in plastic-contaminated areas of the ocean.
Related articles:
- National Geographic: Microplastics are in our bodies. How much do they harm us?
- Chico State Today: Student Fly-fisherman Casts His Line Into Researching Local Creeks