A new study reports that tiny plastic particles collected with natural ocean organic particles can release carbon during combustion that is indistinguishable from carbon from natural organic matter. The researchers calculated the carbon yield from microplastic contaminants and from sedimentary organic matter using analytical tools that marine scientists commonly apply. The finding appears in PLOS One.
Luis Medina, the corresponding author and an expert in ocean biochemistry at the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, explains that the tools cannot tell natural carbon and plastic carbon apart. He says many measurements of particulate organic carbon may be unintentionally affected.
The study notes that microplastics come from the breakdown of larger items, from some products, and from rivers, wastewater and runoff. Microfibers and plastic particles from sampling, storage and processing gear can enter samples. The authors warn this contamination could distort decades of ocean carbon measurements and affect models used to predict climate-related changes. The research was supported in part by grants from the National Science Foundation.
Difficult words
- combustion — process of burning material to produce heat
- indistinguishable — not possible to tell apart
- particulate — small separate particles or pieces in a substance
- contamination — presence of unwanted harmful material or pollution
- sedimentary — formed from layers of material over time
- yield — amount produced or returned from a process
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How could plastic contamination in samples change our understanding of ocean carbon and climate models?
- What steps could scientists take to reduce microfibers and plastic particles entering samples during sampling and processing?
- Which sources of microplastics listed in the article are most common near your area, and what actions could reduce them?
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