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May 23, 2019 Thursday 11:45:59 AM IST

Plastic Harms Bacteria That Releases Oxygen in Oceans

Plastic pollution in oceans may reduce the quantity of oxygen available for us to breathe, according to a new study by researchers at Macquarie University.

The report said that plastics cause damage to Prochlorococcus, the bacteria found abundantly in oceans that helps in photosynthesis.

Researchers said that these tiny bacteria play a critical role in the marine food web, help in carbon cycling and account for 10% of the total global oxygen production. In lab setting the, growth of the microbes were impaired by the exposure to chemicals leached from plastic products such as grocery bags and PVC matting.

The report reveals the likelihood of plastics have a much wider ecological impact than previously thought. Unless, measures to mitigate plastic pollution are taken, our quality of life itself would suffer.