Microplastics Research | US EPA
WEBJul 22, 2024 · EPA researchers define microplastics, or MPs, as plastic particles ranging in size from 5 millimeters (mm), which is about the size of a pencil eraser, to 1 nanometer (nm). For comparison, a strand of human hair is about 80,000 nanometers wide.
Microplastics in the surface ocean - Our World in Data
WEBMicroplastics are buoyant plastic materials smaller than 0.5 centimeters in diameter. Future global accumulation in the surface ocean is shown under three plastic emissions scenarios: (1) emissions to the oceans stop in 2020; (2) stagnate at 2020 rates; or (3) continue to grow until 2050 in line with historical plastic production rates.
NCEI's Updated and Expanded Groundbreaking Microplastics …
WEBJul 2, 2021 · NCEI has updated and expanded the first-of-its-kind global microplastics database. This database collates microplastic data from across the globe, giving scientists and researchers a better understanding of microplastic’s impacts on human and marine health and the economy.
Marine Microplastics | National Centers for Environmental …
WEBApr 19, 2023 · This product is a publicly available collection of marine microplastics data from around the world. The database is a repository for multiple datasets of marine microplastics. The data are aggregated, archived, and accessible to users in a consistent and reliable manner.
Microplastics - Wikipedia
WEBA growing concern regarding plastic pollution in the marine ecosystem is the use of microplastics. Microplastics are beads of plastic less than 5 millimeters wide, [125] and they are commonly found in hand soaps, face cleansers, and other exfoliators.
Mapping Marine Microplastics - NASA Earth Observatory
WEBDec 2, 2021 · About 8 million tons of plastic flow from rivers and beaches into the ocean every year. These plastics are carried by ocean currents and broken down by waves and sunlight into small microplastics. Much of that debris collects in the calm centers of ocean gyres in large floating garbage patches .
Microplastics | Marine Debris Program - National Oceanic and ...
WEB3 days ago · Microplastics are small plastic pieces or fibers that are smaller than 5 mm in size, or about the size of a pencil eraser and smaller. These pieces can be so small that they fit on the tip of your finger, while some can’t even be seen with the human eye!
WEBFeb 3, 2023 · Microfibers are the most prevalent category of microplastics ingested by marine fish, crustaceans, and bivalves (e.g., oysters and clams) in most field studies to date (e.g., Marine Pollution Bulletin; Scientific Reports; Environmental Pollution).
Chart: Where the Ocean's Microplastics Come From | Statista
WEBAug 11, 2022 · This chart shows the estimated share of total microplastics in the world's oceans, by source.
EPA's Microplastic Beach Protocol | US EPA - U.S. Environmental ...
WEBAug 12, 2024 · The EPA’s Microplastic Beach Protocol was designed to help community scientists collect data on microplastic pollution along both freshwater and marine beaches and shorelines.