Krill can break down microplastics -- but that may not be a good thing - Printable Version +- Scivillage.com Casual Discussion Science Forum (https://www.scivillage.com) +-- Forum: Science (https://www.scivillage.com/forum-61.html) +--- Forum: Geophysics, Geology & Oceanography (https://www.scivillage.com/forum-73.html) +--- Thread: Krill can break down microplastics -- but that may not be a good thing (/thread-5024.html)

Krill can break down microplastics -- but that may not be a good thing - C C - Mar 16, 2018 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/mar/12/krill-can-turn-microplastics-into-nanoplastics-study EXCERPT: A world-first study by Australian researchers has found that krill can digest certain forms of microplastic into smaller – but no less pervasive – fragments. [...] Unfortunately, Dawson said, krill were unlikely to provide a solution to the levels of plastics and microplastics polluting the oceans. “It’s not necessarily helping plastic pollution, it’s just changing it to make it easier for small animals to eat it,” she said. “It could be a new source of plastics for the deep ocean.” [...] Dawson said microplastics that had been digested by krill were also too small to be detected in most oceanic plastic surveys, meaning the level of microplastics in the ocean could be higher than currently assumed.... MORE: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/mar/12/krill-can-turn-microplastics-into-nanoplastics-study