Environment - Microplastics have been located at every level of the world's oceans

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Microplastics have been found throughout the world's oceans and at all levels of the water column following a comprehensive survey of over 1,885 sites across the planet. The survey conducted by researchers from Japan, China, New Zealand, Italy, the Netherlands and the United States located microplastics across depths in the ocean including the deepest parts. The Mariana Trench, for example, recorded more than 13,000 microplastic particles per cubic metre nearly 7 miles down. 

Of particular concern from the findings, is that the smallest particles were distributed almost evenly throughout the water currents, rather than being more at the surface level than at the bottom of the ocean.  Another key finding from the survey measurements is that the polymers in these plastics were accounting for very strong reading of the carbon in the water. At depths of 2,000 metres, the polymers comprise as much as 5 per cent of the carbon. 

These high carbon levels may reduce the capacity of oceans to aborb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and thus enable global warming.

The full report can be accessed here: Microplastics in the ocean