What are some effects of the tiny beads called microplastics that are a large component of ocean garbage patches?

A) They absorb carbon dioxide.

B) They are often consumed by animals, making animals sick.

C) They clog pipes and drains.

D) They create gyres.

The correct answer is B.

Microplastics are very small pieces of plastic (less than 5 mm in diameter) which can be found in the environment. Microplastics mostly come from larger pieces of plastic which degrade and turn into these tiny parts of plastic.

It has been shown that microplastics are a very important problem of the marine environment, mainly because they are ingested by marine organisms. Due to their small size, they can be embedded in the tissues of many organisms. This can cause serious health problems, from physical harm to starvation caused by a false feeling of satiety.