What are microplastics?
Every year millions of tonnes of plastic enter the oceans, and images of turtles tangled in nets have made the problem familiar. Less visible, but arguably more worrying, are microplastics: fragments smaller than five millimetres, produced as larger items break down or shed from synthetic clothing in the wash. These particles have been found in the deepest ocean trenches and in the guts of fish eaten by humans. The long-term effects on health are not yet understood, and scientists are wary of making claims that the evidence cannot support. However, many argue that waiting for certainty would be unwise, since plastic does not disappear: it merely becomes smaller. Reducing the amount produced is therefore likely to be more effective than cleaning up what is already there.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Plastic fragments smaller than five millimetres
- Step 1: The text defines them as fragments smaller than five millimetres.
Answer
Plastic fragments smaller than five millimetres.
Why not the others: Plastic bags, long fibres and dissolving particles do not match the definition given.
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