Close Menu
  • Last News
    • Cities
    • Climate
    • Energy
    • Impact
    • Markets
    • Opinions
    • Policy
    • Reports
    • Research
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

News, investigations, and analysis — our top stories every morning to start your day right.

Trending
Illustration of Thorizon's molten salt reactor technology converting nuclear waste into clean energy. Image generated by AI.
“Nuclear Waste Becomes Power Goldmine”: European Firm to Generate 100 MW for 40 Years Using Radioactive Leftovers
Illustration of underwater concrete spheres used for solar energy storage. Image generated by AI.
Giant Underwater Concrete Spheres Are Quietly Revolutionizing Solar Energy Storage in the Most Unexpected Ocean Depths
Illustration of robotic centipedes navigating agricultural terrain. Image generated by AI.
These Creeping Vineyard Robots Use Insect-Like Legs to Annihilate Weeds With Ruthless Precision and Rock-Bottom Costs
Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn RSS
Sustainability Times
Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn RSS
Subscribe
  • Featured
  • Cities
    Illustration of the sinking urban landscape affecting major U.S. cities due to groundwater depletion (AI-generated, unrealistic). Credit: Ideogram.

    “America’s Cities Are Sinking Fast”: 28 Urban Giants Like New York and Houston Are Quietly Crumbling Beneath Our Feet

    May 13, 2025 at 7:00 AM

    Chinese Product Designer Yihan Luo Showcased “Pikapoo” at Milan Design Week 2025

    May 7, 2025 at 5:23 PM

    Winter Storms to Bring More Snow and Ice Across the U.S.

    February 8, 2025 at 10:50 AM

    A survey of a single backyard in Australia reveals over a thousand species

    December 10, 2023 at 10:55 PM

    Harms of noise pollution track with U.S. racial inequities

    December 5, 2023 at 8:50 PM
  • Climate
    Illustration of extreme heat conditions affecting regions like Death Valley, Jacobabad, and Basra. Image generated by AI.

    “Earth Is Boiling Over”: These 9 Scorching Hot Spots Are Blistering Proof Our Planet Is Heating Up Faster Than Ever Before

    May 17, 2025 at 6:54 AM
    Illustration of wildfire smoke impacting air quality and health. Image generated by AI.

    Wildfire Smoke Disaster: This Groundbreaking Study Links U.S. Blazes to 15,000 Deaths and an Economic Hit of $160 Billion

    May 15, 2025 at 9:48 AM
    Illustration of the challenges and complexities of plastic recycling (AI-generated, unrealistic). Credit: Ideogram.

    “Recycling Is a Lie”: New Reports Expose That Most Plastic Can’t Be Reused—and Even Recyclers Are Now Under Fire

    May 12, 2025 at 4:05 PM
    Illustration of billions of periodical cicadas emerging across the United States landscape (AI-generated, unrealistic). Credit: Ideogram.

    “Billions Are Coming”: US Prepares for Biblical Cicada Swarm Not Seen in 17 Years as Ground Begins to Tremble

    May 11, 2025 at 4:54 PM
    Illustration of the ancient Wollemi pine, also known as the "dinosaur tree," thriving in its natural habitat (AI-generated, unrealistic). Credit: Ideogram.

    “Jurassic Tree Lives Again”: 200-Million-Year-Old ‘Dinosaur Tree’ Successfully Bred in Stunning Scientific Breakthrough

    May 9, 2025 at 3:55 PM
  • Energy
    Illustration of Thorizon's molten salt reactor technology converting nuclear waste into clean energy. Image generated by AI.

    “Nuclear Waste Becomes Power Goldmine”: European Firm to Generate 100 MW for 40 Years Using Radioactive Leftovers

    May 20, 2025 at 10:10 AM
    Illustration of underwater concrete spheres used for solar energy storage. Image generated by AI.

    Giant Underwater Concrete Spheres Are Quietly Revolutionizing Solar Energy Storage in the Most Unexpected Ocean Depths

    May 20, 2025 at 9:12 AM
    Illustration of ZeroAvia's hydrogen-electric cargo plane taking off, showcasing sustainable aviation technology. Image generated by AI.

    World First Hydrogen-Electric Cargo Flights Set to Transform UK Aviation With Clean Airborne Logistics Starting This Year

    May 19, 2025 at 6:02 AM
    Illustration of a satellite beaming solar energy to Earth from space. Image generated by AI.

    “13 Times More Power From Space”: UK Company Achieves Historic Solar Breakthrough Beaming Massive Energy Back to Earth

    May 18, 2025 at 6:10 PM
    Illustration of a bottle-shaped nuclear fusion reactor design by Realta Fusion. Image generated by AI.

    “Fusion in a Bottle”: Realta’s Radical Reactor Design Could Finally Deliver Limitless Nuclear Power With Zero Carbon Emissions

    May 18, 2025 at 8:56 AM
  • Impact
    Illustration of robotic centipedes navigating agricultural terrain. Image generated by AI.

    These Creeping Vineyard Robots Use Insect-Like Legs to Annihilate Weeds With Ruthless Precision and Rock-Bottom Costs

    May 20, 2025 at 8:01 AM
    Illustration of the SG-1 Fathom autonomous underwater glider patrolling the ocean. Image generated by AI.

    German Firm Unleashes Underwater Spy Drone Swarm Capable of Operating Stealthily for 3 Months in a Game-Changing Maritime Shift

    May 19, 2025 at 4:46 PM
    Illustration of China's People’s Liberation Army Navy warship undergoing degaussing with AI integration. Image generated by AI.

    US Military Shocked as China Uses AI to Slash Warship Magnetic Signature by 60%, Rewriting Global Naval Power Dynamics

    May 19, 2025 at 9:56 AM
    Illustration of the MQ-9 Reaper drone equipped with small cruise missiles. Image generated by AI.

    “Drones Get Deadlier”: U.S. Equips MQ-9 Reapers With Cruise Missiles in Major Firepower Upgrade for Global Strike Dominance

    May 16, 2025 at 3:46 PM
    Illustration of using lemons for oven cleaning as a natural household hack (AI-generated, unrealistic). Credit: Ideogram.

    “This Oven Lemon Trick Is Pure Genius”: The Person Behind It Deserves an Award for Transforming Everyday Cleaning

    May 12, 2025 at 6:56 AM
  • Markets

    Most sources of protein in the US contain vast quantities of microplastics

    January 11, 2024 at 5:47 AM

    Banking on change: How your accounts have climate impact

    December 26, 2023 at 7:13 PM

    Sparxell’s glitter is golden with nature-based color, design

    December 19, 2023 at 9:29 PM

    Lab-grown coffee tastes pretty darn good, scientists say

    December 12, 2023 at 10:42 PM

    Vegan diets can work wonders in preventing cardiovascular disease

    November 30, 2023 at 10:14 PM
  • Opinions

    Smoke, Mirrors, and Smears: Inside the Campaign Against Gaurav Srivastava (Review)

    May 14, 2025 at 10:45 AM

    Nathan Law and the High Cost of Dissent: A Review of Targeted, Episode 3

    May 13, 2025 at 9:46 AM

    From charts to conversations: a real review of Hint App, The Pattern, and TimePassages

    May 13, 2025 at 5:12 AM

    Where Time Touches Light: Yefan Liu and the Future of Cultural Design

    April 18, 2025 at 3:39 AM
    “Ancient Predator Resurfaces: The Terrifying Epicyon, Massive Canid Beast With Bone-Crushing Jaws, Shakes Experts to Their Core”

    “He’s Back From Extinction”: The Gigantic Epicyon Returns With Bone-Crushing Jaws That Terrified Prehistoric America

    April 16, 2025 at 7:53 AM
  • Policy
    Illustration of China's Chutian satellite constellation in very low Earth orbit. Image generated by AI.

    “US Issues Dire Warning”: China’s Bullet-Like Satellites Are Actively Spying From Low Orbit, Triggering Alarms in Washington

    May 19, 2025 at 5:45 PM
    Illustration of China's advanced missile technology and the U.S. response with the Golden Dome defense initiative. Image generated by AI.

    “Space Nukes Are Here”: China’s Orbital Weapons Trigger Alarms and Revive Trump’s Massive Golden Dome Defense Ambitions

    May 18, 2025 at 10:09 AM
    Illustration of France's future robotic army advancements (AI-generated, unrealistic). Credit: Ideogram.

    “France Overtakes U.S. War Tech”: Battle Robots to Hit the Front Lines by 2027 as America Lags Behind in Military AI Race

    May 14, 2025 at 8:07 AM
    Illustration of China's ambitious satellite megaconstellations and their impact on space debris (AI-generated, unrealistic). Credit: Ideogram.

    “China’s Satellite Swarms Are a Threat”: Starlink Rival Could Overwhelm Earth’s Orbit and Spark Global Space Crisis

    May 13, 2025 at 8:51 AM
    Illustration of a Chinese warship creating the illusion of a fleet using electronic jammers (AI-generated, unrealistic). Credit: Ideogram.

    “China’s Ghost Navy Tricks the World”: How One Warship Morphs Into a Terrifying Fleet in the Eyes of Its Enemies

    May 13, 2025 at 8:05 AM
  • Reports
    Illustration of the SABRE South Collaboration’s experimental setup for detecting dark matter in the Stawell Underground Physics Laboratory (AI-generated, non-realistic illustration). Credit: Ideogram.

    “Scientists Stunned by Mysterious Light”: Bold Experiment Uses 4-Inch Glowing Crystal Core to Unveil Secrets of Elusive Dark Matter

    May 5, 2025 at 6:05 AM
    Illustration of a precision laser being fired from Earth to a satellite orbiting the Moon during daylight (AI-generated, non-realistic illustration). Credit: Ideogram.

    China Hits the Moon With a Laser: First Daylight Lunar Reflection in History Stuns Scientists and Ignites Global Space Race

    May 4, 2025 at 5:09 PM
    Illustration of the SR-72 hypersonic jet soaring through the sky (AI-generated, non-realistic illustration). Credit: Ideogram.

    “China Stunned by US Jet”: SR-72 Hypersonic Aircraft to Fly at Over Mach 5 in 2025, Triggering Shock and Panic in Beijing

    May 4, 2025 at 6:03 AM
    Illustration of China's expansive underground military command center near Beijing (AI-generated, non-realistic illustration). Credit: Ideogram.

    China Unveils Its Military Mega-Project: Satellite Images Reveal Construction of the Largest Military Hub on Earth Spanning Over 1,000 Acres

    May 3, 2025 at 6:54 AM
    Illustration of China's new amphibious anti-tank missile system on the ZTD-05 vehicle (AI-generated, non-realistic illustration). Credit: Ideogram.

    “China Unleashes Amphibious Beast”: This Armored Truck-Turned-Tank Can Now Hunt Enemy Targets Across Rivers and Swamps

    May 2, 2025 at 5:52 AM
  • Research
    Illustration of a massive baby star HW2 consuming gas in its stellar formation. Image generated by AI.

    “Star Devours Like a Monster”: Astronomers Stunned as Baby Star Consumes Gas Equal to Two Jupiters Annually

    May 20, 2025 at 6:58 AM
    Illustration of bird-mimicking drones in a military operation. Image generated by AI.

    “Silent Death from the Sky”: China’s Bird-Like Drones Now Strike Targets Without Warning or Detection Anywhere

    May 20, 2025 at 5:45 AM
    Illustration of a new method to control insect cyborgs using ultraviolet light. Image generated by AI.

    “Mind-Controlled Roaches Are Real”: Scientists Use UV Helmets to Wirelessly Command Cockroach Cyborgs in Chilling New Experiment

    May 19, 2025 at 3:52 PM
    Illustration of a supercomputer simulating magnetized turbulence in space. Image generated by AI.

    World’s Most Powerful Supercomputer Just Mapped Massive Magnetic Turbulence in Galaxy, Uncovering a Chaotic New Space Phenomenon

    May 19, 2025 at 9:09 AM
    Illustration of the YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A Collaborative Combat Aircraft flying alongside crewed jets. Image generated by AI.

    “US Eyes Total Air Control”: New Air-Launched Attack Drone Could Redefine American Military Superiority in Future Warzones

    May 19, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Sustainability Times

Some 14 million tons of microplastics cover the seafloor

Eirwen WilliamsEirwen WilliamsOctober 6, 2020 at 11:04 PM0
Share Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Telegram WhatsApp Email Copy Link
Follow Us
Google News
(photo: Pixabay)
Share
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn WhatsApp Email Copy Link

Nowhere, it seems, is immune from plastic pollution: plastic has been reported in the high Arctic oceans, in the sea ice around Antarctica and even in the world’s deepest waters of the Mariana Trench.

But just how bad is the problem? Our new research provides the first global estimate of microplastics on the seafloor — our research suggests there’s a staggering 8-14 million tons of it. This is up to 35 times more than the estimated weight of plastic pollution on the ocean’s surface.

What’s more, plastic production and pollution is expected to increase in coming years, despite increased media, government and scientific attention on how plastic pollution can harm marine ecosystems, wildlife and human health.

These findings are yet another wake-up call. When the plastic we use in our daily lives reaches even the deepest oceans, it’s more urgent than ever to find ways to clean up our mess before it reaches the ocean, or to stop making so much of it in the first place.

Breaking down larger plastic

Our estimate of microplastics on the seafloor is huge, but it’s still a fraction of the amount of plastic dumped into the ocean. Between 4-8 million tons of plastic are thought to enter the sea each and every year. Most of the plastic dumped into the ocean likely ends up on the coasts, not floating around the ocean’s surface or on the seafloor. In fact, three-quarters of the rubbish found along Australia’s coastlines is plastics.

Marine litter is a blot on the landscape in northern Norway (photo: Flickr)

The larger pieces of plastic that stay in the ocean can deteriorate and break down from weathering and mechanical forces, such as ocean waves. Eventually, this material turns into microplastics, pieces smaller than 5 millimetres in diameter.

Their tiny size means they can be eaten by a variety of marine wildlife, from plankton to crustaceans and fish. And when microplastics enter the marine food web at low levels, it can move up the food chain as bigger species eat smaller ones.

But the problem isn’t as well documented for microplastics on the seafloor. While plastics, including microplastics, have been found in deep-sea sediments in all ocean basins across the world, samples have been small and scarce. This is where our research comes in.

Collecting samples in the Great Australian Bight

We collected samples using a robotic submarine in a range of sea depths, from 1,655 to 3,062 meters, in the Great Australian Bight, up to 380 kilometers offshore from South Australia. The submarine scooped up 51 samples of sand and sediment from the seafloor and we analyzed them in a laboratory.

We dried the sediment samples, and found between zero and 13.6 plastic particles per gram. This is up to 25 times more microplastics than previous deep-sea studies. And it’s much higher than studies in other regions, including in the Arctic and Indian Oceans.

While our study looked at one general area, we can scale up to calculate a global estimate of microplastics on the seafloor. Using the estimated size of the entire ocean — 361,132,000 square kilometers — and the average number and size of particles in our sediment samples, we determined the total, global weight as between 8.4 and 14.4 million tons.

This range takes into account the possible weights of individual microplastics.

How did the plastic get there?

It’s important to note that since our location was remote, far from any urban population center, this is a conservative estimate. Yet, we were surprised at just how high the microplastic loads were there. Few studies have conclusively identified how microplastics travel to their ultimate fate.

Larger pieces of plastic that get broken down to smaller pieces can sink to the seafloor, and ocean currents and the natural movement of sediment along continental shelves can transport them widely. But not all plastic sinks. A 2016 study suggests interaction with marine organisms is another possible transport method.

Scientists in the US have shown microbial communities, such as bacteria, can inhabit this marine “plastisphere” — a term for the ecosystems that live in plastic environments. The microbes weigh the plastic down so it no longer floats. We also know mussels and other invertebrates may colonize floating plastics, adding weight to make them sink.

Single-use plastic products remain ubiquitous worldwide (photo: Pixnio)

The type of rubbish will also determine whether it gets washed up on the beach or sinks to the seafloor. For example, in a previous study we found cigarette butts, plastic fragments, bottlecaps and food wrappers are common on land, though rare on the seabed. Meanwhile, we found entangling items such fishing line, ropes and plastic bags are common on the seafloor.

Interestingly, in our new study we also found the number of plastic fragments on the seafloor was generally higher in areas where there was floating rubbish on the ocean’s surface. This suggests surface “hotspots” may be reflected below.

It’s not clear why just yet, but it could be because of the geology and physical features of the seabed, or because local currents, winds and waves result in accumulating zones on the ocean’s surface and the seabed nearby.

Stop using so much plastic

Knowing how much plastic sinks to the ocean floor is an important addition to our understanding of the plastic pollution crisis. But stemming the rising tide of plastic pollution starts with individuals, communities and governments – we all have a role to play.

Reusing, refusing and recycling are good places to start. Seek alternatives and support programs, such as Clean Up Australia Day, to stop plastic waste from entering our environment in the first place, ensuring it doesn’t then become embedded in our precious oceans.

This article was written by Britta Denise Hardesty, a principal research scientist; Chris Wilcox, a senior principal research scientist; and Justine Barrett, a research assistant, all three of whom work at The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Australia. It is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Did you like it? 4.5/5 (30)

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

News, investigations, and analysis — our top stories every morning to start your day right.

Plastics Pollution
Follow on Google News Follow on X (Twitter)
Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram WhatsApp Email Copy Link
Previous ArticleDeforestation and climate change could ‘doom the Amazon’
Next Article U.S. Duck Stamp contest rule under fire over wetlands ‘litter’
Eirwen Williams
  • X (Twitter)

Eirwen Williams is a New York-based journalist at Sustainability Times, covering science, climate policy, sustainable innovation, and environmental justice. A graduate of NYU’s Journalism Institute, he explores how cities adapt to a warming world. With a focus on people-powered change, his stories spotlight the intersection of activism, policy, and green technology. Contact : [email protected]

Keep Reading
Illustration of a biodegradable mycelium-based material replacing conventional plastics. Image generated by AI.

“Living Mushrooms Could Power Your Phone”: This Stunning Breakthrough Might Replace Plastic and Rechargeable Batteries Forever

Illustration of extreme heat conditions affecting regions like Death Valley, Jacobabad, and Basra. Image generated by AI.

“Earth Is Boiling Over”: These 9 Scorching Hot Spots Are Blistering Proof Our Planet Is Heating Up Faster Than Ever Before

Illustration of nanoplastics adsorbing heavy metal ions. Image generated by AI.

“US Scientists Sound the Alarm”: These Microscopic Nanoplastics Are Now Proven to Absorb Toxic Heavy Metal Ions at Alarming Rates

Add A Comment

Comments are closed.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

News, investigations, and analysis — our top stories every morning to start your day right.

Trending
Illustration of Thorizon's molten salt reactor technology converting nuclear waste into clean energy. Image generated by AI.
“Nuclear Waste Becomes Power Goldmine”: European Firm to Generate 100 MW for 40 Years Using Radioactive Leftovers
Illustration of underwater concrete spheres used for solar energy storage. Image generated by AI.
Giant Underwater Concrete Spheres Are Quietly Revolutionizing Solar Energy Storage in the Most Unexpected Ocean Depths
Illustration of robotic centipedes navigating agricultural terrain. Image generated by AI.
These Creeping Vineyard Robots Use Insect-Like Legs to Annihilate Weeds With Ruthless Precision and Rock-Bottom Costs
News by category
  • Featured
  • Cities
  • Climate
  • Energy
  • Impact
  • Markets
  • Opinions
  • Policy
  • Reports
  • Research
Information
  • About Us
  • Meet the Team
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Legal Mentions
  • Privacy Policy

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

News, investigations, and analysis — our top stories every morning to start your day right.

Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn RSS
© Sustainability-Times.com. All rights reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.