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Scientists Identify 27 Million Tons Of Nanoplastics In The North Atlantic, Highlighting Health Risks And Irreversible Damage To The Environment.
A silent crisis lies beneath the surface of the North Atlantic Ocean. Scientists from the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) and Utrecht University have identified around 27 million tons of nearly invisible nanoplastics floating in this region.
These tiny fragments, smaller than a micrometer, pose a growing threat that cannot be ignored.
Small Trash, Big Threat
Until now, nanoplastics had only been detected in small quantities, but the true extent of the problem was unknown.
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“This estimate shows that there is more plastic in the form of nanoparticles floating in this part of the ocean than in larger micro or macroplastics floating in the Atlantic — or even in all the oceans of the world,” said Helge Niemann, a researcher at NIOZ and a professor of geochemistry at Utrecht University.
The research involved water sample collections at 12 locations during a four-week expedition aboard the RV Pelagia.
To measure the nanoplastics, scientists filtered all material larger than a micrometer and analyzed the remainder using mass spectrometry.
Thus, they managed to detect very small plastic molecules, invisible to traditional methods.
Sophie ten Hietbrink, a master’s student in charge of the sampling work, explained the process. “By drying and heating the remaining material, we were able to measure the characteristic molecules of different types of plastics in the Utrecht laboratory,” she said.
Fall From The Skies
Nanoplastics enter the ocean through various pathways. Larger fragments break down under the action of sunlight, while rivers transport waste from the land.
Another route is the atmosphere: particles can travel through the air and deposit with rain or dry dust.
These plastics are extremely dangerous. Studies already point out that they are infiltrating the food chain, affecting bacteria, plankton, fish, and top predators, including humans.
There is evidence that they can cross biological barriers and have even been found in human brain tissue, raising serious concerns about impacts on health and ecosystems.
“How this pollution affects the ecosystem needs further investigation,” Niemann emphasized.
A Problem Without Return
The findings also help explain the so-called “lost plastic,” which is the difference between the amount of plastic produced worldwide and what is accounted for in environmental studies.
A significant portion of the material has disintegrated into microscopic particles, previously undetected.
“There have been a few publications showing nanoplastics in ocean water, but until now no estimate of the quantity has been made,” Niemann said.
With funding of € 3.5 million, the team will continue investigating the impact of these particles, the predominant variety of plastics, and whether this scenario is repeated in other oceans. However, the main message is clear: the damage is irreversible.
“The nanoplastics that exist can never be cleaned up,” Niemann warned. “Therefore, an important message from this research is that we need to avoid further plastic pollution in our environment.”
The study was published on July 9 in the journal Nature.
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