Smaller microplastic particles are more numerous in the ocean
dimanche 24 mai 2020 à 02:00Most measurements of microplastics in the ocean detect only milliplastics, since they use a strainer with holes .5mm across. A survey with .1mm holes found that the smaller particles are more numerous.
The .1mm-.5mm particles add up to much less mas of plastic than the larger ones. However, if toxins leak out in proportion to surface area, they could leak quantities disproportionate to their masses. Also, they could be eaten by smaller animals that could not ingest a .5mm particle, and enter the food chain lower down.