Study: Nylon second most common plastic in deep sea

LONDON – One of the most comprehensive studies of its kind has found direct evidence that a potentially huge pool of marine microplastics may exist within the largest living space on Earth – the deep-sea water column. Nylon was the second most common plastic polymer identified in the waters, found in the gastrointestinal tracts of pelagic red crabs and from discarded larvacean sinkers in the Monterey Bay marine ecosystem. Human health impacts stemming from both the chemical exposure to plastic debris from seafood consumption, as well as from toxins that adsorb onto plastic debris from the surrounding seawater, are currently unknown.