Microplastics: we’ve found startling quantities in the ice algae that are essential for all Arctic marine life

Summary

Researchers found startling quantities of microplastics contaminating Arctic sea ice algae, the foundational food source for the entire Arctic marine ecosystem, raising concerns about ecosystem-wide contamination and climate feedback effects. Because sea ice algae are consumed by zooplankton, fish, and marine mammals, this contamination creates a pathway for microplastics to enter the Arctic food web and eventually reach human consumers of Arctic seafood.