PLASTIC POLLUTION
Microplastics show up in primates living deep in the Amazon
Researchers found microplastic fibers in the stomachs of Juruá red howler monkeys, despite the species exclusively living in Amazon tree canopies. Photo: Mamirauá Institute
Scientists have long detected microplastics in various parts of the human body and in everyday surroundings, warning of the health risks these small particles may pose. But a recent study in Brazil has raised the alarm about just how far-reaching plastic pollution has become on our planet, and shattered any illusion that protected forest ecosystems are immune to the negative effects of human waste.
While examining stomach samples for information on the dietary habits of Juruá red howler monkeys, native to the remote central Amazon, researchers from the non-profit Mamirauá Institute found something altogether unexpected: in the bellies of two individuals, hidden among partially digested leaves and fruits, they encountered…
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