Marine ecosystems are among the most diverse and vital components of our planet, supporting a vast array of species and providing essential services such as oxygen production, climate regulation, and food resources. Yet, beneath their surface lies a silent crisis: plastic pollution infiltrating every layer of ocean life, from microscopic plankton to apex predators. This article extends the foundational insight from this parent piece by mapping the hidden pathways through which plastics enter and reshape ocean food chains.
- Microplastics originate as macro debris—bottles, bags, fishing nets—fragmenting under sunlight and wave action into particles as small as micrometers. Zooplankton, the ocean’s microscopic grazers, often mistake these tiny fragments for algae, ingesting them in alarming quantities. Studies reveal that over 70% of copepods in polluted zones contain microplastics in their guts, with particles accumulating in digestive tracts and even crossing cellular barriers.
- Unlike larger debris, microplastics can enter cells directly, disrupting metabolic processes. Research on mussels shows that polyethylene particles, a common plastic type, accumulate in digestive glands and interfere with nutrient absorption, reducing energy available for growth and reproduction. At the genetic level, exposure to microplastics correlates with altered gene expression linked to stress response and immune suppression.
- Plastic waste releases hazardous additives—phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), and flame retardants—into seawater. These chemicals leach from degraded plastics and bind to organic matter, entering food webs through filter feeders like mussels, oysters, and barnacles. A 2023 study documented phthalate concentrations in mussels from hotspots exceeding safe thresholds set by the European
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