Riding the wave

Some parasites stick to microplastics and could potentially be hitchhiking across oceans, contaminating ocean life. In a laboratory, scientists in the USA and Canada investigated three pathogens: Toxoplasma gondii (which causes cysts in the skeleton, brain and eyes), Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia enterica (which both cause diarrheal disease). All three are recognised by the WHO as underestimated causes of illness from shellfish consumption. The research revealed that the parasites adhere to the surfaces of microbeads, and even more to the surfaces of microfibres, which are usually derived from synthetic fabrics. Microplastics are then ingested by fish and shellfish, and research indicates that the amount they are consuming is increasing.