Billions of bits of plastic waste threaten humans and wildlife, Australian senators told

Senate inquiry told debris a 'critical problem' - as it emerges the government has the power to instantly ban controversial microbeads from products

Plastic pollution in the marine environment is a "critical problem" for global ecosystems and for human health as microscopic pieces of waste enter the food chain, an Australian Senate inquiry has been told.

The warning came as Guardian Australia learned the federal health minister has the power to instantly ban controversial plastic microbeads from products like soap and toothpaste without any new legislation, according to official parliamentary advice.