US EditionGlobal effort maps microplastics' path through critical ocean systems
- A global team of researchers mapped microplastic distribution throughout the ocean from surface to deep sea using data from nearly 2,000 sampling stations collected between 2014 and 2024.
- This effort arose because previous studies focused mainly on surface pollution, leaving subsurface and deep-sea microplastic presence poorly understood and data inconsistent.
- The study found microplastics widely present at all depths, with smaller particles penetrating deeper and accumulating within ocean gyres and even the Mariana Trench, contributing to the ocean's carbon cycle.
- Co-Author Tracy Mincer explained that microplastics are increasingly integrated into the ocean’s carbon processes, which could affect climate mechanisms and the balance of marine ecosystems.
- The findings suggest that microplastic pollution disrupts key ocean processes, slows carbon sequestration, and calls for improved detection, standardized methods, and greater collaboration to address this persistent pollutant.
27 Articles
27 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…
There is a lack of effective technologies to remove microplastics from water
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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