What are the effects of microplastics?

Microplastics are found in growing quantities in the ocean. According to the UN, there are as many as 51 trillion microplastic particles in the seas, 500 times more than stars in our galaxy.

Microplastics found in the sea can be ingested by marine animals. The plastic then accumulates and can end up in humans through the food chain

They have been found in food and drinks, including beer, honey and tap water. Not surprisingly, plastic particles have also recently been discovered in human stool.

The effect on human health is as yet unknown, but plastics often contain additives, such as stabilisers or flame-retardants, and other possibly toxic chemical substances that may be harmful to the animal or human ingesting them.