Sekundaeres Mikroplastik
Secundary Microplastics
UV radiation, salt content, waves and friction in the sea lead to the decay of plastic parts to secondary microplastics. On average, 13,000 plastic particles drift per square kilometre of sea surface. Plastics obtain their properties through additives. These lead to microplastics in the ocean acting like a magnet on pollutants such as insecticides, flame retardants or heavy metals. Marine species absorb these environmental toxins with the plastic. They can then reach humans via the food chain.
Aerial photo: The German research icebreaker Polarstern is driving for research on the area of the 'Aurora' hydrothermal springs at the Western Gakkel Ridge, Arctic
Photo: Alfred Wegener Institute / Stefanie Arndt, CC-BY 4.0
Researchers at the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) have found more microplastics in Arctic sea ice than ever before. However, most of the particles were microscopically small. Some of the ice samples from five different regions of the Arctic Ocean contained more than 12,000 microplastic particles per litre of sea ice. The plastic remains were also so characteristically distributed in the ice that the scientists were able to trace them back to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
On the other hand, the high proportion of paint and nylon particles indicates increasing shipping traffic and fishing in the Arctic Ocean. The scientists found a total of 17 different types of plastics in sea ice, including packaging materials such as polyethylene and polypropylene, but also lacquers, nylon, polyester and cellulose acetate. The latter is mainly used in the manufacture of cigarette filters. Together, these six substances accounted for about half of all detected microplastic particles.
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On the other hand, the high proportion of paint and nylon particles indicates increasing shipping traffic and fishing in the Arctic Ocean. The scientists found a total of 17 different types of plastics in sea ice, including packaging materials such as polyethylene and polypropylene, but also lacquers, nylon, polyester and cellulose acetate. The latter is mainly used in the manufacture of cigarette filters. Together, these six substances accounted for about half of all detected microplastic particles.
More on the subject...