Lost at Sea: Where Is All the Plastic?

20047,238 citationsJournal Article

Authors

Richard C. Thompson · University of Plymouth

Ylva S. Olsen · Continuous Plankton Recorder Survey

Richard P. Mitchell · University of Southampton

Anthony Davis · University of Plymouth

Steven J. Rowland · University of Southampton

A.W.G. John · Continuous Plankton Recorder Survey

Daniel McGonigle

Abstract

Millions of metric tons of plastic are produced annually. Countless large items of plastic debris are accumulating in marine habitats worldwide and may persist for centuries ([ 1 ][1]–[ 4 ][2]). Here we show that microscopic plastic fragments and fibers ([Fig. 1A][3]) are also widespread in the

Topics & Keywords

Microplastics and Plastic Pollution Recycling and Waste Management Techniques Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Life below water

Publication Details

Published in: Science

Volume 304, Issue 5672, pp. 838-838

DOI: 10.1126/science.1094559

Field-Weighted Citation Impact: 12.60