Mosquitoes eating microplastics raise fears of pollution harming birds and bats

[Judi Lynn]

Insects retain shards of plastic in their bodies when they mature from aquatic larvae into winged adult forms

Josh Gabbatiss Science Correspondent
@josh_gabbatiss
4 hours ago



Insect-eating birds could be accumulating microplastics in their bodies ( Getty )
Microplastics have been found everywhere from Arctic sea ice to German farmland, and a new study has revealed these tiny pollutants could even have entered the skies.

Researchers found that when mosquito larvae living in ponds eat tiny shards of plastic, the fragments stay in their bodies until they have matured into winged adults.

With mosquitoes featuring prominently on the menus of birds, bats and larger insects, this raises concerns about plastic finding its way into the aerial food chain.

Since plastic emerged at the top of the environmental agenda, scientists have scrambled to understand the impact it is having on the health of aquatic animals.

More:
https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/mosquitoes-plastic-pollution-microplastics-birds-bats-swallows-a8543151.html

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