SHEFIK:
It is estimated that there are now trillions of microplastic particles in the marine environment.
Microplastics are of concern because of their widespread presence in the oceans and the potential physical and toxicological risks they pose to organisms.
Microplastics can be ingested by a wide range of animals and have been found in organisms ranging in size from small invertebrates to large mammals.
Laboratory studies have shown there is potential for this to lead to harmful effects and it is estimated that unless we change our ways there, within this century, will be wide scale and potentially irreversible effects in the natural environment.
While there are still many unanswered questions about the amounts of microplastic debris that might be accumulating and the types of harm they could present, there is a growing consensus we should urgently take action to reduce the flow of plastic into the environment.