Microplastics may enter food chain through mosquitoes

Mosquito larvae have been observed ingesting microplastics that can be passed up the food chain, researchers said Wednesday, potentially uncovering a new way that the polluting particles could damage the environment.

Microplastics tiny plastic shards broken down from man-made products such as synthetic clothing, car tires and contact lenses litter much of the world's oceans. Hard to spot and harder to collect, they can seriously harm marine wildlife and are believed to pose a significant risk to human health as they move through the food chain and contaminate water supplies.

Now researchers of the University of Reading believe they have proof for the first time that microplastics can enter our ecosystem by air via mosquitoes and other flying insects.

The team observed mosquito larvae ingesting microscopic plastic beads similar to the tiny plastic balls found in everyday cosmetic products before monitoring them through their life cycle.