Microscopic plastic debris : a new hazard to marine life

In this study, the amphipod Talitrus, the polychaete worm Arenicola marina and the crustacean Semibalanus balanoides were all exposed to microscopic plastic particles to determine whether microscopic plastics are ingested by marine-based organisms. Both plastic fibres and granules were found in the gut of Talitrus. Fibres ranged from 137-750pm in length. Granules were all less than 40)j,m in diameter. Consequently, the ingestion of plastic fibres could potentially cause gut blockage. Plastic particles, all less than 500pm in diameter, were found in casts of A. marina and plastic ingestion was based on size of particle. The frequency of plastic particles less than 500|a,m in casts was significantly different to that in sediment. No plastic particles were found in the gut of A. marina after a 24-hour starvation period. This indicates that plastic is unlikely to cause blockage of the gut in A. marina. Some worms exposed to plastic were found to emerge from their burrows frequently. The number of plastic particles in the gut of Semibalanus balanoides increased with time of exposure to plastic. All particles were less than 44/Lim. Accumulation of plastics could lead to leaching of toxic chemicals in the gut as well as uptake of toxic chemicals such as PCBs that are adsorbed onto plastics. When exposure to plastic ceased, plastic particles in the gut were gradually expelled. Plastic particles were found to block some opercular plates. ii