The world’s seafloor is filled with 14 million tons of microplastics — 25 times greater than previous research showed! The microplastics are broken down from the masses of rubbish entering the oceans every year. Researchers from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) looked at the deep ocean 236 miles from the coast of South Australia and found the number of microplastics on the seafloor was more than double the amount of plastic pollution on the surface of the sea globally.
“Our research found that the deep ocean is a sink for microplastics,” lead research scientist Denise Hardesty said in a statement. “We were surprised to observe high microplastic loads in such a remote location.”
Microplastics ranging in size from 5mm — the size of a rice grain — down to microscopic size, are easily ingested by sea creatures. They include small pieces of synthetic fibers and plastic beads used in cosmetic items, toothpaste and laundry powder soap. The microplastics are in addition to 150 million metric tons of plastic that are already floating in our oceans, with 8 million more tons ending up in the water each year.
Plastic pollution in the world’s oceans is an internationally recognized environmental problem. Millions of tons of plastic enter marine ecosystems every year, and quantities are expected to increase in the coming years. The study highlights the urgency of finding effective solutions to stop plastic pollution before it reaches the oceans, which could include cutting back the use of plastic in general, concentrating on single-use plastics and increased recycling across the globe.
Source: ZME Science October 7, 2020