One small crustacean species is known to break microplastics into smaller pieces in just a few days. According to scientists, the process was faster than expected.
Decomposition of plastic in the marine environment is believed to occur very slowly. It needs very large waves or through long-term sun exposure.
However, researchers from University College Cork (UCC) in Ireland have found invertebrates that are "very common" in freshwater flows that are capable of breaking up microplastics into nanoplastics (measuring less than one micrometer). He can do it in less than 100 hours.
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Dr Alicia Mateos-Cardenas, study leader from UCC, said: "We found that freshwater amphipods or small crustaceans called Gammarus duebeni were able to break down microplastics into various shapes and sizes in less than four days."
"Although these species are found in Ireland, they belong to the group of intervertebrates that are commonly found in freshwater or oceans throughout the world," he added.
According to researchers, this discovery is not good news for plastic waste that is clogged in drains and seas.
They described the results of this study as "worrying". So far we know that microplastics are often consumed by marine animals and then trapped in their digestion causing death. Smaller nanoplastic particles are even more dangerous because they can go deeper into the body of the species — penetrating cells and tissues where the effect is more difficult to predict.
"The finding that common invertebrate animals like that can quickly produce large amounts of nanoplastics is very worrying," the researchers said in the study.
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Dr. Mateos-Cardenas explained that these intervertebrates are so important to the ecosystem because they fall prey to fish and seabirds. However, on the other hand, it is also dangerous because the nanoplastic fragments they produce can enter the food chain.
"The data in this study will help us to understand the role of animals in determining the fate of plastics in waters. Even so, further research is also needed to uncover the overall impact of these particles," he said.
The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports.
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