Researchers in the Netherlands have presented compelling evidence that challenges existing perceptions of plastic pollution in our oceans.
Led by oceanologist Mikeal Kaandorp, the Utrecht team reached their conclusions based on a comprehensive analysis of over 20,000 reliable measurements collected globally. They found that rivers, often considered major contributors to ocean plastic, actually transport significantly less plastic to the oceans than initially thought. Instead, a larger portion of plastic remains within river systems.
Their study reveals that the problem of plastic waste in the oceans is significantly smaller than previously believed, indicating that previous scientific models were not just slightly inaccurate, but entirely incorrect. The scope of the so-called "plastic soup" in our oceans may be a fraction of previous estimates. While previous projections ranged from 50 million to 300 million tons of plastic waste afloat in oceans, Utrecht University researchers assert that the actual figure is closer to 3.2 million tons.
Historically, estimates for plastic waste in oceans were derived from official yearly plastic production data, totaling around 400 million tons per year and over 10 billion tons since the 1950s. With only 6 percent recycled, the rest was either discarded, incinerated, or unaccounted for. This information led environmental organizations to project over 10 million tons of plastic entering the oceans annually.
The prevailing large-scale models on plastic waste entering oceans relied on the volume of plastic manufactured, recycled, disposed of, and untraceable. These models implied that about 10 million tons of plastic reached oceans each year, predominantly through river systems. However, the new research indicates that a significant amount of plastic never even enters water systems, and of the plastic that does, a substantial portion remains trapped within rivers.
These findings hold immense significance as they offer renewed hope to individuals striving to combat plastic pollution. The discoveries challenge the notion of an insurmountable problem, igniting optimism for proactive solutions. Even nations known for their vocal climate advocacy had not begun to address the issue until initiatives like The Ocean Cleanup took action.
The implications are encouraging: If the world's wealthiest nations could collectively remove approximately 4,333 tons of plastic waste from oceans and rivers annually, they could effectively address the entire yearly influx suggested by Kaandorp's model. This revelation offers a manageable target for curbing plastic pollution, dispelling any sense of helplessness that might have hindered past efforts.
Sources: Verstegen, Moniek. Utrecht University. "Less plastic in the ocean and easier to clean up". https://www.uu.nl/en/news/less-plastic-in-the-ocean-and-easier-to-clean-up. Aug 7 2023. [Accessed: Aug 8 2023].
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