In the fight against microplastic pollution, scientists have discovered a surprising ally in the blue mussel. While microplastics are challenging to remove from our oceans, blue mussels can ingest these particles as part of their regular diet, holding them inside feces that are easier to filter out of the water. Recent studies have confirmed the mussels’ ability to filter microplastics, with lab results suggesting they could remove up to a quarter of a million particles per hour. However, experts caution that mussels alone can’t solve the microplastic pollution problem, and the ultimate solution lies in stopping plastic pollution at the source. While mussels might help mitigate microplastic’s impact, maintaining a balanced ecosystem is crucial, and it may not be feasible to rely on them as a standalone solution. Nevertheless, captured microplastics in mussel poop may become trapped in seafloor sediment, posing less risk to marine life.
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