Filter feeding marine animals are not only consuming microplastic particles but also excreting them in feces that disguise the plastic as organic matter, a team of Tel Aviv University researchers reported. This transformation allows the particles to infiltrate the marine food web undetected, spreading pollution and potentially carrying harmful pollutants and diseases to organisms throughout the ecosystem.

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles measuring less than five millimeters in diameter. They can originate from a variety of sources, including the breakdown of larger plastic debris, microbeads in personal care products, and synthetic fibers shed during washing. These particles often carry harmful pollutants, such as heavy metals and chemicals.

Due to their small size, they easily infiltrate marine environments, where they are ingested by a wide range of organisms, including fish, plankton and filter feeding animals such as mussels, clams, and certain types of fish.