Microplastics found on the ocean floor

Scientists studying the floor of the Mediterranean near Italy have discovered up to 1.9 million plastic pieces per square metre in ocean sediments.

Drift deposits, which are huge accumulations of sediments on the ocean floor are caused by ocean currents dragging material downwards from the ocean surface. Whilst some of these plastics will have been ingested by marine life, large amounts have been deposited.

The reporting on ocean plastics has always focused on gyres which has led to large accumulations of visible waste on the ocean surface as well as plastics washing up on to coastlines. However - scientists believe that this only accounts for 1% of the plastic waste. The remaining waste is unaccounted for but it is likely that the ocean floor and deep trenches may have large amounts and this will have a significant impact upon marine biodiversity. For more information on this news article, check out the following:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52489126