Study reveals the complexity of microplastic pollution

Microplastics—small plastic pieces less than 5 millimeters in length—are ubiquitous in the environment, and they can have significant effects on wildlife. A new study published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry reveals that there are multiple impacts of different microplastics—with varying sizes, shapes, and chemical makeup—to the survival, growth, and development of larval fathead minnows, an important prey species in lakes and rivers in North America.