According to a report by the Japan Kyodo News Agency, a team of researchers from Germany and other countries recently discovered that the Arctic sea ice has accumulated a large amount of 'microplastics' that have become a global problem of marine pollution.
Data Map: Svalbard, Norway.
According to reports, a team consisting of the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany analyzed the number and types of microplastics contained in ice collected at five locations in the Arctic Circle from 2014 to 2015 using icebreakers. They melted the sea ice and found that the number of particles contained in sea ice amounted to 12,000, which is equivalent to the worst level in the world reported by South Korea and Denmark.
The research team warned that 'the negative impact on Arctic biology and global warming make sea ice melt, causing further spread of pollution is worrying.'
The analysis showed that the highest content of microplastics was found in the Fram Channel between the Greenland and Norwegian Svalbard islands. Among the sea ice near the Fram Strait that was connected to the land of Greenland, more than 4,100 were found. Particles. The least sea ice on the northern side of Svalbard also contains 1,100 particles.
It is reported that microplastics is a general term for particles with a diameter of 5 mm or less. Among the particles that have been found, 67% are 0.05 mm or less in diameter, which is extremely small and can easily enter organisms.
According to the report, the ocean current analysis suggests that some of them were transported from the 'trash dump' in the northern part of the Pacific Ocean. On the other hand, they may have originated from particles in the Arctic fishery. A total of 17 plastics were found in the survey. Polyethylene used in packaging containers, etc. Also found are nylon, polyester, etc. particles that may come from apparel, acetate fibers used in tobacco filters, etc.