3 ms·
They're super small and don't get caught up in wastewater treatment filters so then they enter into local watersheds. There, they get ingested by the critters a
by sageabilly 11y ago
They're super small and don't get caught up in wastewater treatment filters so then they enter into local watersheds. There, they get ingested by the critters at the bottom of the foodchain and enter into the foodchain that way.
- smsm42 11y agoSo what is the difference with, say, very fine sand/dust? Density? E.g. do the same critters ingest fine sand - and if so, why plastic is more harmful? Also, if these microbeads are chemically inert, what is the harm from them entering the foodchain - as opposed, again, to e.g. dust?
- DanBC 11y agoSand and dust tends to settle, where as these microbeads form a "soup". The beads absorb some chemicals, and so they're not inert by the time they're eaten.
- Houshalter 11y agoDo they decay in UV light? I know most plastic will tend to break down over time if left outside.