Every year, 8 million tons of plastics are dumped into the world’s oceans. The smallest ones, called microplastics, are absorbed by marine organisms. Until now, the consequences that these microplastics may have for the health of marine organisms and human health are unknown. A team from the University of Vigo coordinates the European project Ephemare (Ecotoxicological effects of microplastics in marine ecosystems), with scientists and institutions from 10 different countries, in order to answer this question.
In the following link Ricardo Beiras explains, in an interview conducted by GCiencia, the physical and chemical effects of microplastics and the objectives of the project: https://youtu.be/MzGfGlhJWQ4
To learn more about the Ephemare project, you can visit its official website http://www.jpi-oceans.eu/ephemare
