Periwinkles, Predation and Plastics

Yet another illustration of the perils of microplastics,that have now been recorded in a wide range of organisms on land and in the sea! It has been demonstrated that toxic microplastics, added to the seawater block the periwinkle's chemically-mediated attempted escape from predator crabs (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/28/microplastic-toxins-leave-shellfish-at-mercy-of-predators-research). This behavioural change is likely to have a real impact on marine populations and at least raises the question whether these plastics can change human cognition. We are certainly getting doses of them when we eat seafood.