Microplastics found in wild mammals' blood more than 40 miles from human infrastructure

AI Summary

A study published in Nature found microplastics in the blood of wild mammals living more than 40 miles from human infrastructure. The research links greater environmental exposure to higher microplastic accumulation in individual animals, raising concerns about potential harm to wildlife.

Animals, like humans, are taking up increasing amounts of tiny plastic particles. Such microplastics are demonstrably hazardous to many species under experimental conditions, and it is suspected that they may also pose a threat to animals in the wild. While data about microplastic concentrations in the terrestrial environment exist, it has not yet been clear if higher exposure also translates into higher microplastic accumulation in individual animals. A new paper published in Nature now confirms this link.