The Ubiquitous Nature of Microplastic Fibers
A collage of digital microscope images showing a variety of synthetic microfibers (largely textile based) typically found in the Atlantic ribbed mussel (Delaware Inland Bays), a filter feeding bivalve of environmental importance. Microplastics such as these have been shown to be globally ubiquitous, from the deepest reaches of our oceans to the seemingly pristine Arctic region. This research study was the first to evaluate the extent of microplastic levels in this species and assess its ability to act as a biomonitoring tool for microplastic pollution.