Thursday January 11, 2024
PhysOrg —
The presence of plastics in our oceans and waterbodies is one of the most significant threats to marine ecosystems. In 2022, plastic production exceeded 400 million tons globally, which continues to rise. The presence of microplastics, ranging in size from 100 nanometers to 5 millimeters, is particularly concerning.
Owing to their small size, they can travel long distances in the oceans and can easily be ingested by a wide range of marine organisms, resulting in their accumulation in the food chain. Another aspect of microplastic pollution, often overlooked but equally dangerous, is its ability to absorb and carry harmful chemicals, such as persistent organic pollutants.
Benzo[α]pyrene (BaP), classified as a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, stands out as a pollutant with significant concern. Produced as a byproduct of fuel and combustion processes, previous studies have reported BaP to be responsible for the induction of physiological stress and DNA damage in fish and other marine organisms.