An international scientific team from the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research revealed extremely disturbing data on microplastic particle pollution in marine spaces. The large-scale study, published on July 21, reveals the existence of approximately 27 million tons of nanoplastics dispersed in the depths of the North Atlantic.
The study identified a critical source of pollution that had previously been invisible to the scientific community. Nanoplastics, whose sizes are smaller than 1 micron, are formed through gradual degradation of larger plastic particles under the influence of multiple natural factors.
Key mechanisms for the transformation of plastic waste include intense UV exposure, river transport, and air currents. These microscopic particles possess an extremely dangerous potential, as they easily enter the food chains of marine organisms.
The most alarming aspect of the discovery is the impossibility of effectively filtering and removing nanoplastics. The scientific team emphatically emphasizes that the particles have penetrated deep into food chains - from microscopic plankton to human internal organs.
Experts issue a categorical warning to the global community, insisting on immediate and radical preventive measures. The only possible solution according to researchers is the complete prevention of plastic pollution at its source.
This epochal study not only reveals the scale of the ecological threat but also raises serious questions about the future of marine ecosystems and human health in the context of growing plastic pollution.