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Ocean Pollution

All articles tagged with #ocean pollution

Australian Seabirds Break Plastic-Ingestion Records, Fledgling Carries 894 Pieces
environment23 days ago

Australian Seabirds Break Plastic-Ingestion Records, Fledgling Carries 894 Pieces

Australian seabirds on Lord Howe Island are breaking plastic ingestion records, including a fledgling with 894 pieces—about 64 g, roughly 15% of its body weight. The trend, rising since 2023 with new records each year, reflects increasing ocean waste and parents feeding plastic to chicks. The study urges stronger recycling policies (e.g., attached bottle caps) and highlights research into turning plastic into fuel or other useful materials as potential solutions.

via Gizmodo|
#australia#environment#ocean-pollution
Microplastics Reach Deep-Sea Vents; Indian Ocean Species Harbor 14.7× More Particles
environment2 months ago

Microplastics Reach Deep-Sea Vents; Indian Ocean Species Harbor 14.7× More Particles

A KRIBB-KIOST study analyzed deep-sea snails and mussels from hydrothermal vents in the North Fiji Basin (Pacific) and Central Indian Ridge, finding microplastics in 92% of the animals (average 3.42 particles per specimen). Polystyrene was most common; grazing snails concentrated plastics in digestive organs, while mussels showed a more even distribution. After adjusting for body weight, Indian Ocean specimens had up to 14.7× higher microplastic concentrations than Pacific specimens, likely due to differences in human activity, river inputs, and circulation. The researchers emphasize that surface plastic pollution has reached remote deep-sea ecosystems and advocate for monitoring and conservation policies.

via The Times of India|
#deep-sea#environment#hydrothermal-vents
White Halos on Sunken Barrels Reveal Decades of Alkaline Pollution on LA Seafloor
science5 months ago

White Halos on Sunken Barrels Reveal Decades of Alkaline Pollution on LA Seafloor

Off the Los Angeles coast, scientists found submerged barrels from mid-20th‑century dumping leaking caustic alkaline waste, creating white halos formed by brucite and driving highly alkaline conditions (pH around 12) in surrounding sediments. While earlier concerns about DDT were not borne out, the findings point to alkaline byproducts as the likely pollutant, with about one‑third of barrels showing halos and nearby microbes largely suppressed. The exact contents and full environmental impact remain uncertain, but the evidence shows lasting, localized disruption of marine life for decades.

via The Daily Galaxy|
#alkaline-waste#brucite-halos#deep-sea-microbiology
Decades-old toxic waste leaks reshape the deep-sea floor
environment7 months ago

Decades-old toxic waste leaks reshape the deep-sea floor

Decades after the U.S. dumped thousands of barrels of toxic waste into the Pacific, new findings show leaks are still altering the San Pedro Basin’s deep-sea sediment chemistry and microbial life. A 58-square-mile survey identified around 74,000 debris targets, including ~27,000 barrels, with halos of hardened minerals indicating alkaline leakage. The resulting high pH and altered microbial communities could affect deep-sea ecosystems for thousands of years, complicating cleanup and policy decisions; the study appears in PNAS Nexus.

via Earth.com|
#ddt#deep-sea-ecology#environment
Decades-Old Caustic Waste Barrels Off LA Coast Reveal Mysterious Halos
environment1 year ago

Decades-Old Caustic Waste Barrels Off LA Coast Reveal Mysterious Halos

Scientists have identified that some of the mysterious 'halo' barrels submerged off Los Angeles contain caustic alkaline waste, which has persisted for decades, creating extreme environments on the seafloor and potentially leaching toxic metals, highlighting long-term environmental impacts of historical dumping of industrial and chemical waste.

via Live Science|
#alkaline-waste#chemical-waste#environment
Scientists Discover 27 Million Tons of Hidden Plastic
environment1 year ago

Scientists Discover 27 Million Tons of Hidden Plastic

Researchers have estimated that the North Atlantic Ocean contains about 27 million tons of nanoplastics less than 1 micrometer in size, highlighting the vast and largely invisible scale of plastic pollution in our oceans and its potential impact on ecosystems and human health. The study emphasizes the need to prevent further plastic pollution, as nanoplastics are pervasive and difficult to clean up.

via Gizmodo|
#environment#environmental-impact#marine-ecosystem
27 Million Tons of Nanoplastics Found in North Atlantic, Raising Environmental Concerns
environment1 year ago

27 Million Tons of Nanoplastics Found in North Atlantic, Raising Environmental Concerns

Scientists have estimated that approximately 27 million tons of nanoplastics are present in the North Atlantic Ocean, revealing a vast amount of tiny plastic particles that are difficult to clean up and pose potential risks to marine life and human health. The study highlights the importance of preventing further plastic pollution rather than attempting to remove existing nanoplastics.

via ScienceDaily|
#environment#marine-ecosystem#nanoplastics