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A framework to integrate parasites into micro- and nanoplastic pollution research
Summary
Scientists are pointing out a big blind spot in microplastics research: almost nobody is studying how tiny plastic particles affect parasites and the diseases they cause. This isn't a study with new results, but a proposed roadmap for future research, arguing that plastics could change how parasites spread or make hosts sicker. Since many parasites affect human and animal health, understanding this connection could matter for predicting disease risks as plastic pollution keeps growing.
Plastic pollution is a global issue. Research on its effects on free-living organisms is growing, but the mechanisms by which micro- and nanoplastics interact with host-parasite systems and their ecological and evolutionary implications remain largely unknown. We propose a framework to better integrate parasites into the context of plastic pollution.