Millions of microplastics ingested by grey whales everyday

Image by Pixabay

Researchers analysing the prey of grey whales off the Oregon coast say that the mammals are likely ingesting millions of tiny pieces of plastic, clothing fibres and other human debris every day that could be harming their health - and potentially people. Grey whales can consume more than 16 tonnes of plankton a day, and zooplankton has been found to contain more than 400 microparticles, half of which are man-made fibres. Grey whale waste has also been analysed and found to contain larger pieces of microplastics that are not filtered by their baleen.

It is also very likely that humans are ingesting microplastics through their fish-based diets, and researchers are now increasingly finding plastic nanoparticles in marine life.

New bills are being passed in America to phase out the use of polystyrene containers in takeout’s and product packaging as well as banning PFAS (forever chemicals).