Researchers map microplastic pollution in the North Sea

The United Nations estimates that 52 million tonnes of plastic waste enter the oceans each year, creating roughly 24 trillion microplastic particles. At the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) on the Belgian coast, senior researcher Ana Catarino leads a team that samples the North Sea to identify and quantify these particles. The scientists distinguish primary microplastics, such as industrial nurdles, from secondary microplastics formed when larger debris breaks down under the influence of waves, wind and UV radiation. Catarino notes that increased sunlight, heat waves and temperature fluctuations associated with climate change can accelerate this breakdown. While a single microplastic particle may pose limited risk, combined with rising sea temperatures and existing stress on marine organisms, the effects can become cumulative and more severe. New analytical techniques are being applied to detect and count the tiny, irregular fragments throughout the water column.