Effect of Microplastic on Animals and Humans
Abstract
Microplastics are increasingly gaining attention due to their discovery in living organisms and diversity. Microplastics in the ocean have received the most attention for the massive microplastic garbage patches prevalent in oceans. However, microplastics in terrestrial biomes are overlooked despite their significance. Microplastics on land have three pathways into the food chain: soil ingestion of microplastics from plastic mulching, livestock consumption of microplastics, and microplastic contamination from food packaging, which has a negative and disproportionate impact on food security and health for marginalized communities. This paper investigates the impact of microplastics across these contexts and makes recommendations for sustainable practice.
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