Tiny plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in size that result from the breakdown of larger plastic items or are manufactured as microbeads. These particles contaminate ecosystems worldwide and enter food webs.
Compound from Greek 'mikros' (small) and 'plastic' from Greek 'plastikos' (moldable). The term was coined by marine biologist Richard Thompson in 2004 as scientists began recognizing the widespread presence of tiny plastic fragments in the environment.
Microplastics have been found everywhere from the deepest ocean trenches to the highest mountains, and even in human blood and lungs! These tiny particles can carry toxic chemicals and are consumed by organisms throughout the food web, potentially affecting entire ecosystems.
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