Read more at Grist

• A new study in Nature estimates the North Atlantic Ocean contains 27 million metric tons of nanoplastic, which are particles 100 times smaller than a human hair.
• This estimate is 10 times higher than previous figures for all plastic pollution sizes across all oceans, making invisible nanoplastics potentially the most widespread type of plastic pollution.
• The research is one of the first attempts to quantify marine nanoplastic pollution, previously limited by detection technology.
• Nanoplastics are concerning for marine biology and human health because they can cause inflammation to living cells when ingested and easily traverse biological membranes due to their tiny size.
• Experts hypothesize nanoplastics could travel more widely in the human body than microplastics, potentially leading to more adverse health consequences like reproductive issues, intestinal problems, and cancer, as seen with microplastics.
• Researchers collected water samples at various depths and locations in the North Atlantic, including the “garbage patch” gyre, using novel mass spectrometry to identify plastic polymers.
• Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was the most widespread nanoplastic, followed by polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polystyrene.
• Nanoplastic concentration was highest near the surface and lowest near the seafloor, possibly due to the breakdown of larger plastic pieces.
• While the estimate relies on limited samples, experts agree that such high levels of nanoplastics are plausible given the vast amount of larger plastic entering oceans annually.
• The study’s findings are likely conservative as the analysis method could not detect polyethylene and polypropylene, two of the most common plastic polymers.
• Researchers emphasize the need for more studies on nanoplastics’ global prevalence and fate, noting that manual cleanup is not feasible.
• The research reinforces the urgent need for global limits on plastic production, rather than allowing projected increases, a topic to be debated in upcoming U.N. plastics treaty negotiations.