New Study Spots Ocean Floor as the Reservoir of Most Plastic Pollution

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The latest research study carried out by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) in association with the University of Toronto has found that ocean floors have become a resting place for most plastic pollution. The plastic waste littering world’s ocean floors is estimated to be up to 100 times the quantity found floating on its surface, the study noted.

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According to Denise Hardesty, senior research scientist at CSIRO, it is a commonly known fact that millions of tons of plastic waste enter the world’s oceans every year. The study found that the planet’s ocean floors are estimated to contain more than 11 million tons of plastic, comprising of microplastics and larger plastic objects such as bags, cups and fishing nets. The plastic entering the oceans will continue to end up in the deep ocean, the study noted.

The study was part of CSIRO's Ending Plastic Waste program, which aims to reduce plastic waste entering the Australian environment by 80% by 2030.

As per estimates, human beings produce approximately 440 million tons of plastics every year. The world’s plastic use id predicted to double by 2040. The rising threat of plastic pollution not only causes harm to the environment but to the human health as well.