Microplastics do not just end up in the open sea, in fact, a lot also end up in the ecosystems of the coastal zones
A recent study by the University of Southern Denmark shows that microplastics do not just end up in the open sea – in fact, a lot also end up in the ecosystems of the coastal zones- which may threaten wildlife.
Mangroves and seagrasses grow in many places along the coasts of the world, and these ’blue forests’ constitute an important environment for a large number of animals. However, the plant-covered coastal zones do not only attract animals but also microplastics, a new study shows.
“The denser the vegetation, the more plastic is captured”, says Professor and expert in coastal ecology, Marianne Holmer, from the University of Southern Denmark. She is concerned about how the accumulated microplastics affect animal and plant life.
Another problem with microplastics is that they may be covered with microorganisms, environmental toxins or other health hazardous/disease-promoting substances that are transferred to the animal or plant that absorbs the microplastics.
“When microplastics are concentrated in an ecosystem, the animals are exposed to very high concentrations”, Marianne Holmer explains.
The study is based on examinations of three coastal areas in China, where mangroves, Japanese eelgrass (Z. japonica) and the paddle weed Halophila ovalis grow. All samples taken in blue forests had more microplastics than samples from control sites without vegetation.
The concentrations were up to 17.6 times higher, and they were highest in the mangrove forest. The concentrations were up to 4.1 times higher in the seagrass beds.
Researchers also believe that microplastics bind in these ecosystems in the same way as carbon; the particles are captured between leaves and roots, and the microplastics are buried in the seabed.
