Observing the Effects of Marine Debris Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification

Marine debris in the ocean is a complex problem to tackle due to its multifaceted nature. Amongst the various forms of marine debris, microplastics, and heavy metals are often the focus of research due to their pervasive and toxic nature within the marine environment. Plastics, being lightweight, are frequently carried around by the ocean currents on the ocean surface. During transit, plastics often break down into smaller forms known as microplastics. These microplastics, small enough to be digested by marine wildlife, often attract toxic chemicals and are introduced into the food web. On the other hand, heavy metals are water soluble, toxic, and dense. As such, they don’t travel far from their source of origin unless subject to a strong water current. Due to their soluble nature, they are easily introduced into the biological systems of marine wildlife. Once inside, they stubbornly remain in the body and accumulate until they reach lethal levels or their host is consumed by a predator. Both microplastics and heavy metals pose a serious threat to not only the marine ecosystem but also to other systems that interact with the ocean in any form. An understanding of microplastic and heavy metal marine debris and their effects on the trophic chain is essential in fixing this waste problem.