"Marine Mammals: Silent Carriers of Microplastics in the Ocean"

A study conducted by a graduate student at Duke University has found that microplastics can migrate beyond the digestive system of marine mammals and embed in their tissues. The research, which examined over 65% of marine mammals, discovered polymer fragments and fibers in the blubber and lungs of these creatures. The implications of embedded microplastics on marine mammals are still unknown, but previous studies have suggested that plastics could act as hormone mimics and endocrine disruptors. The study highlights the ubiquity of ocean plastics and the long-term impact they have on marine ecosystems.