Why 99% of ocean plastic pollution is "missing"

Summary

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a massive collection of plastic debris between Hawaii and California, accumulating due to ocean currents. Despite scientists' discovery of this patch, most ocean plastic remains a mystery. Research shows that microplastics are found in sea sediments and marine creatures, while larger debris sinks or stays close to shorelines. Plastic waste, including items like bottles and toothbrushes, persists for decades or centuries in the ocean. With much plastic pollution hidden in plain sight along coastlines, beach cleanups and better recycling could be key to preventing further damage.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a large area between Hawaii and California, where plastic debris accumulates due to ocean currents.
• 😀 There are other similar garbage patches in the world, and while researchers once believed they were the primary location for ocean plastic, new findings complicate this view.
• 😀 Recent studies show that the majority of plastic in the ocean is actually not in these garbage patches but may be sinking to the sea floor or degrading into microplastics.
• 😀 The amount of visible plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is only 1% of the estimated 8 million tons of plastic entering the ocean each year.
• 😀 A sediment sample taken from the Santa Barbara Basin revealed that plastic particles, some smaller than 1 millimeter, have been accumulating since the 1940s, correlating with global plastic production rates.
• 😀 Microplastics, which are tiny plastic particles, are found floating in oceans and have even been detected in the stomachs of tiny creatures like plankton.
• 😀 Some large plastic objects, such as bags and crates, sink to the deep ocean floor, where they may persist for long periods without degrading.
• 😀 Plastics on the ocean surface can become covered with organisms like barnacles, which make the debris heavier and cause it to sink.
• 😀 Plastic objects near shorelines often have more recent production dates than those found in the open ocean, indicating that much of the plastic stays closer to shore rather than drifting to open ocean patches.
• 😀 Oceanographers, such as Erik Van Sebille, use models of ocean currents to predict where plastics accumulate, suggesting that most plastic pollution is found within 100 miles of shorelines, continually washed up or down the coast.
• 😀 Cleaning up the ocean's plastic waste involves preventing plastic from entering the ocean, improving recycling programs, and reducing plastic production to limit the growing plastic heap in the environment.

Q & A

What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and where is it located?

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a massive area of plastic debris located between Hawaii and California, covering an area about twice the size of Texas. It is formed by swirling ocean currents that collect plastic waste from around the world.

Why is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch called a 'cloudy soup'?

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is described as a 'cloudy soup' because the plastic objects in the patch are scattered far apart and vary in size, from large debris to tiny microplastics, creating a dispersed and unclear mass of pollution.

What did scientists recently discover about the plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?

Recent research showed that, while the patch contains large amounts of plastic debris like water bottles, toothbrushes, and toilet seats, it only represents about 1% of the estimated 8 million tonnes of plastic that enter the ocean every year.

What is the mystery scientists are trying to solve regarding ocean plastic?

The mystery lies in where the remaining 99% of the ocean's plastic pollution ends up, as only a small fraction is found in garbage patches like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

What did the sea floor sediment study reveal about the fate of plastic?

The study of sea floor sediments from the Santa Barbara Basin revealed that plastic fibers and fragments have been accumulating since the 1950s, with their number increasing over time. This suggests that some plastic is sinking to the ocean floor and becoming part of the geological record.

How does plastic enter the ocean floor, and why does it remain there?

Plastic can either be dense enough to sink on its own or become heavier over time as organisms like barnacles and mussels attach to it. This process causes plastics to sink to the ocean floor, where they can persist for long periods.

Why did researchers find many older plastic objects in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?

The discovery of older plastic objects, some dating back to the 1970s, suggests that much of the plastic in the ocean’s garbage patches is persistent, not degrading into microplastics or sinking as expected. This highlights the long-lasting nature of plastic pollution.

What did research show about plastic pollution near coastlines?

Research indicated that a significant portion of plastic pollution stays near shorelines. Plastic debris often moves back and forth between the beach and the ocean, which explains why a large amount of plastic remains visible on beaches and in coastal waters.

What role do beach clean-ups play in addressing plastic pollution?

Beach clean-ups are essential for removing visible plastic debris from shorelines before it can degrade into microplastics or drift out to the open ocean. They help reduce the amount of plastic entering the marine environment and mitigate further damage.

What actions can individuals take to help reduce ocean plastic pollution?

Individuals can reduce ocean plastic pollution by participating in beach clean-ups, supporting better recycling programs, and using less plastic in daily life. Reducing plastic production and consumption is key to preventing further environmental harm.