Record concentration of microplastic measured in arctic sea ice

Researchers at the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) have found higher amounts of microplastic in arctic sea ice than ever before. The ice samples from five regions throughout the Arctic Ocean contained up to 12,000 microplastic particles per litre of sea ice.
The researchers found a total of 17 different types of plastic in the sea ice, including packaging materials like polyethylene and polypropylene, but also paints, nylon, polyester, and cellulose acetate. Taken together, these six materials accounted for roughly half of all the microplastic particles detected. An article about the research is published in Nature Communications (Press Release AWI, 24 April 2018).
Click here for the press release.
Click here for the published article (1.75 MB).
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