Crystalline style-induced surface damage on textile polyester microfibers in a freshwater bivalve

Summary

Researchers found that when freshwater mussels swallow tiny polyester fibers (a common type of microplastic from clothing), a hard structure in their gut called a crystalline style can actually grind up and damage those fibers before they're pooped out. This matters because it shows that microplastics don't just pass through animals unchanged — they can break down into even smaller pieces inside a living creature's body, potentially making them easier to spread through waterways and the food chain, including up to the foods we eat.