We know microplastics are everywhere – but what's less clear is the harm they might be doing. New research puts those potential harms into sharp focus, estimating that microplastics may reduce photosynthesis rates by as much as 18 percent.

Microplastics can cut a plant’s ability to photosynthesize by up to 12 percent, new research shows microplastics are accumulating in the environment Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, how microplastics hinder photosynthesis

On average, these little particles could reduce photosynthesis in plants and algae by up to 12 percent, according to the paper

Microplastics are silently sabotaging the planet’s greenery, curbing photosynthesis, and threatening food security.

A new study finds that microplastic pollution reduces plant photosynthesis, threatening global food security and worsening climate change. Researchers warn this could lead to major crop losses and disrupt ecosystems.

Microplastics are floating in the air around us, surging through rivers and streams and burrowing deep into soils. And now, a new study suggests that all those tiny pieces of plastics are also disrupting the growth of plants.