With human growing reliance on plastic for packaging and other uses, eight million tons of plastic are dumped in the ocean annually. More than five trillion pieces of plastic have been ＿＿（36）＿＿ in the oceans, and the equivalent of one garbage truck of plastic waste is being added to the sea every minute. The pieces of plastic ＿＿（37）＿＿ smaller pieces due to UV exposure and wave action. These tiny plastic particles are ＿＿（38）＿＿ end up in the food chain. The smallest ones, called nano-plastics, sink deep into the ocean and can end up in plankton. Larger pieces, known as micro-plastics, float in water and are eaten by fish, which then get eaten by "apex predators" higher up the food chain-- including humans. When humans consume the fish, they consume the micro-plastics along with it. Research showed that the fish consuming micro-plastics may ＿＿（39）＿＿ internal injuries, malnutrition, reduced hatching rates, or a slow and painful death. Research also showed that European shellfish lovers consume up to 11,000 micro-plastics annually, and that the amount of plastic ＿＿（40）＿＿ from seafood will increase as plastic pollution in the ocean gets worse. What research hasn't proven yet is how dangerous this plastic consumption might be.