Study Reveals Extensive Plastic Pollution in Oceans Beyond Garbage Patches

A recent study conducted by researchers from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) uncovered significant quantities of plastic waste and microplastics in a remote marine protected area of the Pacific Ocean. The findings, published in Environmental Science & Technology, indicate that plastic pollution extends far beyond known garbage patches, posing a threat to the entire ocean ecosystem.

Prof. Annika Jahnke, UFZ environmental chemist and coordinator of the MICRO-FATE project, underscores the severity of the issue, emphasizing that millions of tons of plastics enter the ocean annually, contributing to long-lasting environmental damage. Despite increased awareness of ocean plastic pollution, assessing its full impact on marine ecosystems remains challenging.

The study aimed to elucidate the distribution of plastics in the ocean and identify particularly affected areas, including potential plastic-free zones. By conducting a five-week expedition on the research vessel “Sonne” in 2019, the researchers sampled surface water across the North Pacific Ocean, selecting stations based on a prediction model from the University of Hawaii. Sampling locations ranged from well-researched areas, such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, to unexplored zones like the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

Using litter surveys and neuston nets, the team assessed the abundance of plastics, including microplastics smaller than five millimeters in diameter. Analysis of collected particles revealed varying degrees of weathering, with larger, less degraded plastics typically found closer to pollution sources. Surprisingly, equally substantial quantities of microplastics were detected in remote marine protected areas, challenging previous assumptions about plastic distribution.

Dr. Melanie Bergmann, co-author from AWI, emphasizes the pervasive nature of microplastics across the oceans, noting that plastics were present in all sampled stations. This widespread contamination underscores the urgent need for comprehensive measures to mitigate plastic pollution.

As UN member states prepare to adopt a global Plastics Treaty to address ocean plastic pollution, scientists advocate for stringent reductions in plastic production and improved waste management strategies. Simplifying and enhancing the recyclability of plastic products are crucial steps toward safeguarding marine ecosystems against the pervasive threat of plastic pollution.