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Discussion: All plastic in the ocean is WRONG
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All plastic in the ocean is WRONG
Oct 3 2008, 6:30 PM EDT
Are 'microplastics' marine pollutants? Experts start to ask if tiny particles might be clogging ocean food chain By Jessica Marshall Discovery Channel We've all heard about sea turtles, dolphins or seabirds dying from entanglement in six-pack rings, plastic bags or other detritus - or from bellies full of mistakenly swallowed plastic. But some marine researchers are concerned about the effect that much smaller bits of plastic may be having on the seas. So-called "microplastics" may concentrate pollutants, be ingestible by the ocean's tiny denizens - from zooplankton to filter feeders like clams and mussels - and move up the food chain. A group of scientists gathered this month to identify what's known about this problem and where more research is needed. "We know that stuff breaks down, and as it breaks down, it forms smaller and smaller pieces of plastic," said workshop organizer Joel Baker of the University of Washington, Tacoma. "But there's another story, and that is that there are some processes that either purposefully or inadvertently create microplastic particles in their own right." One of the outcomes of the workshop was to identify areas where the greatest effects are likely to be seen. These are good starting points for additional research, because if microplastics are causing problems, such locations should show the effects most directly, he added. In the meantime, taking steps to reduce plastic debris - large and small - is a good idea, Helton said. "I don't think there's any right amount of plastic to dump in the ocean." Read more: URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26994478/ Do you find this valuable?
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