US EditionGlobal effort maps microplastics' path through critical ocean systems
- An international research team mapped microplastic distribution across the global ocean from surface to deep sea during 2014–2024 across nearly 2,000 stations.
- This study followed previous limited work and found that microplastics infiltrate ocean depths exceeding 2,000 meters and accumulate notably in subtropical gyres and deep trenches.
- Researchers found that smaller microplastics disperse more evenly and travel deeper into the ocean, whereas larger particles tend to accumulate near the surface; notably, these plastics now represent a quantifiable portion of carbon particles within the ocean's ecosystem.
- Microplastic concentrations reach up to 13,500 particles per cubic meter in the Mariana Trench, and microplastics constitute up to 5% of carbon particles at 2,000 meters, with the plastics altering natural oceanic carbon processes.
- The findings highlight persistent pollution with unclear ecological and climate implications, stressing the need for improved detection and understanding of microplastics' long-term effects on marine systems.
28 Articles
28 Articles
High school students make devastating discovery while testing water in iconic national park: 'I cried three times'
High school students found a concerning level of microplastics in water samples collected from two remote Grand Teton National Park lakes. What's happening? The Jackson Hole News&Guide reported on tests conducted by two San Francisco Bay Area high school students. The duo collected water samples with a portable pump from eight lakes in Grand Teton National Park. They returned to California to analyze the lakewater with a microscope and spectrome…
Although modern water treatment plants can remove a large portion of the microplastics found in wastewater, effective methods for their complete removal are still lacking, a recent review article suggests.
Chewing Gum Is a Sneaky Source of Microplastics, According to a New Study
Researchers found that chewing gum — from both synthetic and natural brands — released an average of 100 plastic fragments per gram.Food & Wine / Getty ImagesKey pointsA UCLA study found that chewing gum from both synthetic and natural brands can release microplastics into saliva, with some brands shedding more than 600 fragments.Many gums use petroleum-based polymers, similar to those found in plastic water bottles, but vague labeling often hid…
New Japanese Plastic Breaks Down in the Ocean Without Leaving Microplastics Behind - One Green Planet
A new recyclable plastic dissolves in seawater, avoiding microplastics and helping marine life stay safe and pollution-free. The post New Japanese Plastic Breaks Down in the Ocean Without Leaving Microplastics Behind appeared first on One Green Planet.
'Scratching' more than the ocean's surface to map global microplastic movement
An international team of scientists has moved beyond just 'scratching the surface,' to understand how microplastics move through and impact the global ocean. For the first time, scientists have mapped microplastic distribution from the surface to the deep sea at a global scale -- revealing not only where plastics accumulate, but how they infiltrate critical ocean systems. Researchers synthesized depth-profile data from 1,885 stations collected b…
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