How do microplastics enter the food chain?
Plastic does not disappear when it is thrown away. Over many years, sunlight and waves break large pieces into tiny fragments called microplastics, some smaller than a grain of rice. These fragments are eaten by plankton and small fish, and so they enter the food chain. Scientists are still studying how this affects the health of larger animals and of the people who eat seafood. What is clear, however, is that a large share of ocean plastic comes from discarded fishing gear and from rubbish carried out to sea by rivers. Several coastal towns have responded by placing special nets across stormwater drains to catch litter before it reaches the sea, and some fishing companies now collect old nets for recycling. Environmental groups argue that such measures help, but they add that reducing the amount of single-use plastic made in the first place would be more effective than cleaning up afterwards.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. They are eaten by plankton and small fish
- Step 1: The passage states that plankton and small fish eat the fragments.
Answer
They are eaten by plankton and small fish.
Why not the others: They are added to fish feed on farms: this is not mentioned. They are absorbed from the air by seabirds: the passage does not say this. They are produced by living organisms: microplastics come from the breakdown of plastic.
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