Marine Life Finds Certain Plastics “Appetizing”

Brain Coral Platygyra” by arthurmlee1 licensed under CC BY 2.0

Source: Washington Post

A study published in the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin suggests that humans may have created plastics that are appetizing to marine life, such as coral.

The study found that corals respond to microplastics the same way they would with food, by snatching it up and eating it. Meanwhile, if sand particles were dropped near them then they would brush those away.

Researchers tried the same experiment with several types of plastics and found that corals responded the same to most of the microplastic particles by trying to eat them, yet few tried to eat sand particles.

Findings in the study led researchers to say that “factory plastic has an appealing ingredient.”

Researchers are now focused on finding out what the “appealing” ingredient in plastic could be.

Read Full Story: Washington Post

Environment, News
Environment, News