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The Conversation
The Conversation
Environment
Karen Shapiro, Associate Professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis

Disease-causing parasites can hitch a ride on plastics and potentially spread through the sea, new research suggests

The sticky biofilms that form on microplastics can harbor disease-causing pathogens and help them spread. Tunatura/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Typically when people hear about plastic pollution, they might envision seabirds with bellies full of trash or sea turtles with plastic straws in their noses. However, plastic pollution poses another threat that’s invisible to the eye and has important consequences for both human and animal health.

Microplastics, tiny plastic particles present in many cosmetics, can form when larger materials, such as clothing or fishing nets, break down in water. Microplastics are now widespread in the ocean and have been found in fish and shellfish, including those that people eat.

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