What effect do microplastics have in marine systems?
Microplastics are ingested or taken up by marine organisms and can remain in digestive tracts or move, especially at very small sizes, into tissues. This creates tissue contamination and may expose cells to physical irritation, polymer additives, and chemicals carried on particle surfaces. The ecological consequences depend on dose, size, polymer, and organism; microplastics do not generally enhance photosynthesis or undergo rapid biodegradation. Standardised sampling and contamination controls are essential because airborne fibres can enter samples during collection and laboratory processing.
Ref: Campbell Biology, Urry et al., 12th Ed., Unit 8 Ecology
