Journal retracts controversial paper on dangers of microplastics to fish

Researchers behind study, which may have helped cement case for banning microbeads, found guilty of scientific misconduct

A landmark paper claiming to show the devastating impact of microplastics on fish has been retracted after an investigation found the authors guilty of scientific misconduct.

The study, published in the prestigious journal Science, claimed that fish became "smaller, slower and more stupid" when exposed to tiny plastic fragments in the marine environment. It also suggested that perch larvae favour eating plastic over their natural prey "like teenagers eating junk food".