Microplastics have been found in the digestive tract of one of the most isolated animals on Earth, a study has revealed. The up-to-two-millimetre-long bugs were collected and taken back to the lab for analysis — which revealed that they contained tiny plastic pollutants. The results are the first confirmation that microplastics have entered the Antarctic food chain — which springtails form the basis of. Previous studies of Antarctic springtails have suggested that they suffer alterations in growth and reproduction due to the ingestion of plastics. Microplastics have been found in springtails living on polystyrene (left) discovered on a rocky beach on King George island, Antarctica.

Source: Daily Mail June 23, 2020 23:01 UTC