The Earth is losing its climate shield due to microplastics

They are now found in all environments, including deep ocean waters, freshwater reserves, the atmosphere, soils, Arctic ice and even the human body. Microplastics, tiny particles of plastic less than5 mm in size, are more widespread than imagined.

They carry toxins that are ingested by living organisms, including humans, causing disease, disrupting ecosystems, endangering aquatic life and reducing soil fertility. But what do we really know about their impact on marine ecosystems?

This is the question addressed by a study just published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials: Plastics. While microplastics are widely recognized as pollutants, the study shows that they also interfere with the ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide.

Microplastics disrupt marine life, weaken the 'biological carbon pump' and even emit greenhouse gases explains Ihsanullah Obaidullah, Associate Professor of Integrated Water Treatment Technologies at the University of Sharjah and corresponding author of the study. Ultimately, these changes could lead to ocean warming, acidification and biodiversity loss, threatening of food security and coastal communities worldwide.

The oceans are the planet's largest carbon sink, but micro-plastics are undermining this natural shield against climate change.

More than 10 million tonnes of plastic waste enter the oceans every year, 99% of which consists mainly of fibers from textiles and clothing that sink into the abyss. Microplastics alone can be toxic to deep-sea fauna, but they can also carry other harmful pollutants such as PFAS and heavy metals, capable of affecting the entire food chain.

The impact of microplastics on the health of the ocean, particularly in terms of their potential to warm and acidify the seas, remains a matter of concern. However, existing literature shows significant gaps in methodologies for calculating or predicting these impacts, highlighting major avenues for future research.

(MP/Greenme.it/Source: Journal of Hazardous Materials/Translation and adaptation: The Global Nature/Pic: Unsplash)