Flying insects carry microplastics in their bodies

If an insect begins its life in the water, there is a good chance that it eats pieces of microplastic.

Mosquitoes begin life as larvae, living in water. They are filter feeders that grow tiny algae in their mouths to develop into non-nourishing pupae. After that, they hatch and fly like adult mosquitoes.

What scientists have learned recently and published in a study for the journal Letters of biology, it is that a large number of mosquitoes ingest microplastic beads in the larval stage and that these parts remain in their bodies, even in adulthood. Larvae are unable to distinguish between algae and microplastics because they are about the same size. and because of the way their bodies grow, there is no mechanism to remove the plastic before hatching.

The discovery was surprising for many. According to the principal author of the study, Professor Amanda Callaghan of the University of Reading,

"It's a shocking reality that plastic contaminates almost every corner of the environment and its ecosystems. Recent attention has been paid to plastics that pollute our oceans, but this study reveals that it is also in our sky. "

It is likely that other flying insects that start with water – based larvae also carry microplastics in the air. Plastic parts would be transmitted to predators that feed on these insects, such as spiders, dragonflies, birds and bats. Callaghan: "This is a new way to get plastics up in the air and expose animals that are not normally exposed. We do not know what the impact will be. "

It is disconcerting to learn more routes of contamination, but that should not be surprising. The problem is that very little research has been done on the effect of microplastics on freshwater habitats; the greatest attention to date has been given to ocean pollution and plastic accumulation in marine animals and seabirds. It is time we turn our attention to freshwater sources as well.

From the guardian:

"It is widely accepted that humans also consume microplastics. "We eat them all, no question," said Callaghan. Eating seafood such as mussels or cod is a way, while beer, sugar and sea salt all contain microplastics. The exposure is likely to increase, as plastic production is expected to increase by 40% over the next decade, prompting scientists to seek urgent research on the effects of microplastics on people.

It's hard to know what to do. A "Save the Mosquitoes!" Campaign is not going to come in, but knowing what they carry in their bodies can inspire people to do more. This is a sign of a deeper problem than we could have had. With plastic floating in our drinking water, piling up in the ground and now flying overhead, it's more important than ever to reduce the personal consumption of plastic products (especially single-use disposables). Similarly, lobby food manufacturers to take responsibility for the complete life cycle of their packaging and urge governments to take anti-plastic measures at the national level.