The amount of plastic floating in the oceans is not increasing at expected rates, indicating that living organisms may potentially be developing the ability to break down the substance, according to scientists in Barcelona. Surveys of areas where plastic accumulates, including the notorious North Atlantic gyre, reveal that the amount present is between a tenth and a hundredth of what was anticipated, even though plastic production is increasing. Plastic pollution has been linked with an increase in cancer rates among marine life since it first became widespread more than 30 years ago.
The amount of plastic floating in the oceans is not increasing at expected rates, indicating that living organisms may potentially be developing the ability to break down the substance, according to scientists in Barcelona. Surveys of areas where plastic accumulates, including the notorious North Atlantic gyre, reveal that the amount present is between a tenth and a hundredth of what was anticipated, even though plastic production is increasing. However, fast biodegradation could itself lead to further problems, including the entry of additives contained in plastic to the food chain.