Detect tremors in the deepest ocean

The researchers said they were shocked by the unprecedented high plastic behavior is detected under the sea, with only 1.9 million pieces of 1m ² .

The accumulation of floating plastic accounts for less than 1% of the 10 million tons of plastic that invades the world's oceans every year, according to research at the University of Manchester in the UK.

The remaining 99% is thought to accumulate in the deep bottom of the ocean, but it is still unclear where their final destination will be.

A study published on April 30 in the journal Science shows that deep ocean currents act as conveyors, transporting small pieces and fibers throughout the seabed.

Because of these flows, microplastics accumulate in huge sediment accumulations, which are called "micro plastic hot spots" by researchers from the UK, Germany and France .

A sample of seabed sediments. (Photo: CNN).

Dr Ian Kane from the University of Manchester and lead author of the study, said his team was 'shocked ' at this finding.

He told CNN that the "debris" including bottles, bags and straws often seen floating on the surface of the water was "the tip of the iceberg".

'We were really shocked by the amount of micro-plastic found in the deep sea,' Dr. Kane said. 'It's much taller than anything we've ever seen before.'

Microplastics are found mainly in the unfiltered fabric in sewage treatment plants.

The size is too small to allow them to bypass conventional water treatment systems and easily flow into rivers and the sea.

The sediment samples in the new study were collected in the Tyrrhenian Sea, part of the Mediterranean Sea off the western coast of Italy.

Scientists have removed microplastics from the sediment and determined how ocean currents control the distribution of microplastics in the seabed.

Once they drift into the ocean, the microscopic plastic is quickly moved by turbulent currents, which are strong currents accumulated under the water. They carry microscopic plastic down deep water alleys to deep seabeds.

"The microplastics themselves are relatively inert, but over time they act as a nucleus for contaminants and toxins," Kane pointed out.

From there, the microplastics can be ingested and transmitted by microorganisms through the food chain.

The scientists say their study shows the first direct link between the concentrations of microfilters and the ocean currents. They hope this will allow them to predict hot spots and study the impact on marine life.

Chris Thorne, campaigner for the protection of his uncle at Greenpeace, called for a second thought about the actions taken with plastic waste.

"Microplastics can be devoured by many marine creatures," he warned . And the chemical contaminants they carry can even follow the food chain to our dining table. " .

1. 99.99% of plastic waste on the sea turns out to be deep in the ocean without us knowing it
2. Detecting microplastics in rainwater, not only lying beneath the sea