Micro And Nano Plastic From The Atmosphere Is Polluting The Ocean!

According to estimates, by 2040 the level of plastic pollution could reach more than 80 million metric tons per year. Plastic particles have now been detected in basically all places in the environment. These plastics have been detected in the soil and ample water bodies. These tiny plastic particles can travel via ocean currents and rivers and even reach the Arctic and Antarctica. A new study reveals that wind can also transport these small plastic particles very far. This is even faster than water.

Today, more than 0.013 and 25 million metric tons of micro and nano plastic per year are transported many miles by ocean air, snow, fog, and many other ways of transport. These plastics across countries, oceans, and even entire continents in this process. This estimate was achieved by an international team of 33 researchers including experts from many institutes such as the Alfred Wegener Institute. These institutes are found in the German city of Kiel.

“Air is more dynamic than water,” says co-author Dr. Melanie Bergmann from AWI. “As a result, microplastic and nano plastic could quickly spread around the area and regions of the planet which still remain untouched!” She adds on.

Let’s stop plastic pollution and make our earth a better place to live!

Author: Sri Nihal Tammana

Source: Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research

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