Microplastics - An incalculable danger to the ocean

The ocean is facing dangers from plastic waste, nylon ropes used on fishing boats is one of the causes.

Ocean microplastics are small plastic particles or fibers floating in the water, they inadvertently become food for many fish and marine life. When these fish are caught by humans or other animals, the microplastics continue to migrate to new living organisms. This is a cycle that not only poses a threat not only to human health but to a wide variety of animals.

It must be added that, over time, the accumulation of microplastics in the body of animals can cause risks to their health such as blocking the trachea, causing suffocation, adverse effects on the digestive system, These are just a few of the many reasons why animals can die from plastic waste.

Previous studies have shown that a large amount of microplastics floating in the ocean comes from plastic packaging and certain types of plastic waste. Other sources include synthetic textile fibers that enter wastewater streams from factories, or rubber particles that fall from car tires, all of which follow wastewater into rivers and then into the ocean.

Microplastics in the ocean come from the indiscriminate dumping of plastic waste by humans.

In a recent study by the University of Plymouth's (UK), the use of ropes made from synthetic fibers (mostly nylon) in the fishing industry may be creating billions of microplastics in the world. ocean every year. Plymouth's research also conducted experiments on many different ropes to get the most objective assessment.

Based on field experiments and laboratory simulations, the scientists determined that new and used nylon ropes within a year could release about 20 pieces of microplastics into the ocean for human consumption. every meter is towed.

The longer the rope is used, the more microplastics will increase significantly, an average of 720 microplastics will fall into the ocean every meter, this number will increase to 760 for a 10-year-old rope.

Given those numbers, it is estimated that the new 50m-long rope is capable of releasing between 700 and 2,000 pieces of microplastic each time it is pulled. For older ropes, the number can go up to 40,000 pieces.

With more than 4,500 fishing boats operating in the UK, it is estimated that each year the ocean will receive between 326 million and 17 billion microplastic particles from fishing activities.

Dr. Imogen Napper, a research scientist at the University of Plymouth's, said: "These estimates are calculated after the ropes have to pull a 2.5kg object. However, most fishing operations do. seafood will have to carry much heavier loads, create more friction and potentially have more microplastics, which adds to the pressing need for maintenance, replacement standards and recycling nylon ropes in the marine industry. However, it also shows the importance of innovating to design a new model of rope that is more environmentally friendly."

The University of Plymouth was the first to highlight the global problem of ocean microplastics, and won the Queen's Commemorative Award for Higher Education in 2019.

In previous research, scientists at the University of Plymouth have also shown the long-term damage to fisherman's catches, so that they are acutely aware of the possibility that marine litter can cause damage. long-term damage to their catches.

Microplastics appear in used ropes.

Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS, Head of the International Marine Garbage Research Unit, said:

'For centuries, most of the items in the fishing industry including ropes and nets were produced using natural resources. However, the large-scale increase in plastic production since the 1950s has resulted in plastics gradually replacing their natural products.

However, the durability of plastic has led to a major environmental challenge when items reach the end of their life or, as in this study, when they develop microplastics. However, this study highlights a previously unidentified source of microplastics that is increasing by a significant amount. This makes us need to think long-term and positive change'.

It can be seen that microplastics from nylon ropes used on fishing boats are a big threat to the ocean environment. Therefore, every fisherman needs to raise the awareness of protecting the sea when going out to sea, this action will ensure long-term livelihood.