Contact
Email: ncei.info@noaa.gov
Resources
- Marine Microplastics Product Flier - November 2024
- Nyadjro, E.S., Webster, J.A.B., Boyer, T.P., Cebrian, J., Collazo, L., Kaltenberger, G., Larsen, K., Lau, Y., Mickle, P., Toft, T., Wang, Z. The NOAA NCEI marine microplastics database. Sci Data 10, 726 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02632-y
What Are Microplastics?
Microplastics are plastics that are smaller than 5 mm (.20 in). While microplastics primarily come from plastic materials like bottles and bags, they also enter ecosystems from clothes and cosmetics. Microplastics are pervasive throughout the environment. They are found in oceans, rivers, estuaries, lakes, the atmosphere, beaches, sea ice, and sediments. Microplastics are most often created on land and then are carried by rivers and wind to oceans, where they become part of the global ocean circulation system. Once in the ocean, fish and other marine organisms ingest microplastics. This can kill those organisms or become part of the food chain for fish and ultimately humans. The increase in microplastics pollution is a growing concern, affecting coastal communities, marine ecosystems, marine life, human health, and the economy.
Marine microplastics are found from the sea surface to the sediment covering the ocean floor. In addition to harming aquatic organisms and ecosystems, microplastics pollution affects economies in many ways, including clean-up costs, the decline of fisheries, and coastal tourism. Over time, lost fishing gear breaks down through abrasion and biofouling resulting in the release of microplastic fragments and fibers. Fish can end up consuming these pieces of microplastic exposing them to toxic chemicals that can result in a variety of health problems from neurotoxicity, growth retardation, and behavioral abnormalities or death. Seafood is the main source of animal protein for approximately 20% of the global population (1.4 billion people). Marine microplastics endanger this source of protein by reducing the efficiency and productivity of aquaculture and commercial fisheries through fish mortality. One study estimates that 19 to 23 million metric tons, or 11%, of plastic waste generated globally in 2016 entered aquatic ecosystems, with this estimate expected to increase to 53 million metric tons per year by 2030.
One study estimates that 19 to 23 million metric tons, or 11%, of plastic waste generated globally in 2016 entered aquatic ecosystems, with this estimate expected to increase to 53 million metric tons per year by 2030.