Research Suggests Amount of Microplastics in Oceans Has Been Underestimated

Scientists have investigated the water along the US and UK coastline with the use of fine mesh nets that filter smaller microplastic particles than the usual coarser nets do. The researchers found that previous estimates of 5-50 trillion particles are extremely wrong. It’s likely that there are at least 12 to 125 trillion microplastic particles in the ocean. Most of the particles found by the researchers came from fibres from textiles such as nets, clothing and ropes.

Plastic pollution harms the growth, fertility and survival of marine animals. Microplastics are particularly harmful, as they are similar in size to the food of zooplankton. These organisms are integral to the marine food chain. So, if a zooplankton eats microplastics, these particles enter Animal1 when it eats the zooplankton. Next, Animal2 eats Animal1, transferring the microplastics to Animal2. And this chain continues until it reaches non-pescatarian humans.

A separate study has also found microplastic particles in birds, who eat aquatic insects that have consumed microplastics.

The new study suggests that there are more microplastics in the ocean than zooplankton. There could even be trillions more than the scientists estimate, as some particles may have been to small for the fine mesh nets to capture.