New research from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology shows that microplastics interfere with phytoplankton, the microscopic algae responsible for absorbing a significant portion of human generated CO2. Plastics like PVC can be toxic to these organisms, while other particles block the sunlight needed for photosynthesis. The study highlights that tropical and arid ocean zones are the most affected, potentially losing thousands of tons of carbon uptake capacity annually. This creates a feedback loop where plastic pollution directly weakens one of the planet's most critical natural carbon sinks.
