To survive in freshwater, dangerous viruses ‘hitchhike’ on microplastics.
Between 4.8 and 12.7 million metric tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean each and every year. When exposed to the elements, larger pieces of waste plastic progressively deteriorate and break down into ever-tinier fragments, until they are finally reduced to the level of microplastic particles.
After that, these microplastics find their way into the food we consume, the water we drink, and even the air we breathe. And it turns out that in addition to wreaking havoc on human cells, microplastics provide a safe habitat for deadly viruses that can cause gastrointestinal distress such as throwing up and diarrhea.
According to a study that was recently published in the journal Environmental Pollution, a group of researchers from Stirling University have demonstrated for the very first...