Plastics and Priority Pollutants: A Multiple Stressor in Aquatic Habitats

摘要

Last year, 150 tons of plastic pellets spilled off the coast of Hong Kong. The BBC reported, "the plastic balls are not toxic on their own, but could absorb toxins that would be lethal to any species that might be tempted to eat them." This highlights a common misperception regarding small plastic debris in aquatic habitats-the material itself is not considered a hazard to aquatic animals. What are considered a hazard are the priority pollutants (e.g., persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and metals) that sorb to plastic debris from ambient water. Here, I argue that this viewpoint is myopic and fails to acknowledge previous research that demonstrates how plastic itself can cause harm.