Microplastics textile and tyres major source of ocean pollution

Tiny plastic particles washed off products such as synthetic clothes and car tyres could contribute up to 30% of the ‘plastic soup’ and – in many developed countries – are a bigger source of marine plastic pollution than plastic waste, according to a new IUCN report. The report looked at primary microplastics released from household and industrial products across seven geographical regions.
According to the report, between 15 and 31% of the estimated 9.5 m tonnes of plastic released into the oceans each year could be primary microplastics, almost two-thirds of which come from the washing of synthetic textiles and the abrasion of tyres while driving (News Item IUCN, 22 February 2017).
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Click here for the report (1.16 MB).
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