How are microplastics different on both sides of the Atlantic?

According to a new study, the North Atlantic circulation waters contain significantly more plastic than other high seas areas, and plastic is made up of
polymers produced by packaging, rope and paint particles.

As one of Earth's five major ocean circulations, man-made ocean debris is trapped in
a cycling ocean current that stretches from the east coast of North America to the west coast of Europe and Africa.

A new study found that it contained higher levels of polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylic acid and polyamide, while other offshore locations were more associated
with PVC and polystyrene.

Seawater, on the other hand, which is closer to land, has a much higher diversity of polymer compositions, which the researchers say may be due to its proximity to various sources of plastic produced on land
.

The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Plymouth, Mercator-Océan International and the expedition, was collected during the expedition's pioneering all-female circumnavigation mission
.

The study's findings are based on nearly 30 samples taken across the Atlantic, allowing scientists to examine changes in the concentration and type of microplastics in the upper layers of the ocean, both at the surface and at depths
of 25 meters.

The overall goal of this study is to provide further data on the amount of plastic in the region and to cover parts of the ocean where existing data are scarce, such as the eastern boundary
of the North Atlantic Circulation.

Dr.
Winnie Koten-Jones, Expedition Science Leader and Postdoctoral Fellow at the International Marine Debris Research Group at the University of Plymouth, is the lead author
of the study.

"Plastic pollution has been reported in the North Atlantic and its subtropical circulation for 50 years
," she said.
However, this study shows that the types of polymers differ in
different parts of the North Atlantic.
The high diversity of polymers found in nearshore waters may simply be due to numerous and different sources
of plastic inputs directly from land.
At the same time, the gyre appears to be more closely related
to items transported from the marine industry or from countries bordering the Atlantic through ocean currents.
”

Water samples collected in the circulation contained an average of 0.
62 microplastics per meter3, compared to an average of 0.
19 MP/^m3 and 0.
4 MP/^m3 in other offshore areas
.

Using a tracking model developed by experts at Mercator-Océan International, the team was able to demonstrate how particles found on the surface of the circulation reach this region
.

Given the dramatic changes in the North Atlantic currents, models suggest they may have entered the sea from anywhere in North America, Western Europe, and northwest Africa
.

It also shows some challenges
when trying to manage plastic pollution flowing from its source to the ocean, the researchers said.

The expedition's circumnavigation of the world left Plymouth in October 2019 to visit some of the most important and diverse marine environments on the planet, with the aim of inspiring a network of change-makers, providing effective solutions to the industry, and influencing policy changes
on land.

Emily Payne Behm, founder of Expedition and one of the co-authors of the current study, said: "The striking finding of our study is the huge diversity of polymer types, particularly in offshore areas
.
It tells us that pollution comes from many different sources – clothes, paint chips or car tires – and therefore means that solutions need to be diversified
.
We are starting to determine where the solution is on land by better understanding the initial sources of pollution, but the fact that the findings only reinforce what an international challenge
this is.
The ocean connects us all, your pollution is my pollution, and we need to solve this
problem together.
”