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Microplastics discovered in the body tissues of whales, dolphins and seals – sparking concerns for human health too
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Researchers found that relatively large microplastic particles can penetrate and accumulate in the body tissues of whales, dolphins, and seals, raising concerns about similar tissue-level accumulation pathways in humans who consume marine-origin food.
New research shows that relatively large microplastic particles can make their way into the body tissues of marine mammals.
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Microplastic pollution is everywhere, even in the exhaled breath of dolphins – new research
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Researchers detected microplastics in the exhaled breath of wild dolphins, demonstrating that marine mammals are inhaling airborne plastic particles and providing new evidence of how pervasive microplastic pollution has become across ocean ecosystems.
Study links microplastics with human health problems – but there’s still a lot we don’t know
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Researchers highlight a study linking microplastic exposure to human health problems, noting that plastics from everyday products like packaging, clothing, and toys shed particles that accumulate in the body, while emphasizing that significant scientific uncertainty remains about the nature and severity of health effects.
Far more microplastics floating in oceans than thought
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A new sampling method revealed that southern ocean microplastic concentrations are 37 times higher than previously estimated, suggesting that existing models have dramatically underestimated the scale of plastic pollution in Earth's most remote marine environments.
Microplastics may pose a greater threat to the base of marine food webs
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This perspective argues that small animals at the base of marine food webs—such as zooplankton and filter feeders—are likely ingesting microplastics at higher rates than larger organisms, yet receive far less research attention. Because these foundational species transfer energy and contaminants to every level of the food chain, microplastic impacts at the base could have outsized consequences for entire marine ecosystems and human seafood safety.
Microplastic pollution is everywhere, but scientists are still learning how it harms wildlife
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A broad review of wildlife studies finds that microplastics frequently cause negative biological effects including reduced reproduction, altered feeding behavior, and physical damage, though results vary considerably across species and plastic types. The inconsistency highlights the need for standardized research methods to better understand which organisms and exposure levels pose the greatest ecological risk.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.