11 Oct 2022 --- Researchers from the University of York, UK, have discovered that the larvae of Caddisflies – a common insect that inhabits global freshwater environments such as rivers, lakes and ponds – contribute to microplastic pollution by disintegrating larger pieces of plastic trash to build protective casings in which they can live. “The active use of plastic litter by freshwater animals that our study uncovered could contribute to the formation of microplastics within these habitats,” says lead author of the study, Ph.D. student Katey Valentine from the department of environment and geography at the University of York. Co-author of the study, professor Alistair Boxall, says: “As well as demonstrating microplastic production, our work also shows how these organisms can exploit plastics to construct their homes. This could make the larvae more prone to predation and result in increased exposure to things like additives that will slowly leach from the plastic.”
