French scientists believe that microplastics are now widespread in the Mediterranean sea, posing significant health, environmental and economic risks, according to a long-term study.
The French Riviera attracts holidaymakers, stars - and microplastics. A long-term study by the French National Centre for Scientific Research has been sampling the waters off Villefranche-sur-Mer, near Nice.
The scientists found the equivalent of 600,000 plastic pieces per square kilometre, with risks to human health and the environment.
"These microplastics are a form of pollution that are nearly invisible, but their impact is significant because either they can enter the food chain and reach humans - meaning that the organisms will eat them...they serve as vectors for the spread of organisms."
The researchers used manta trawl nets to sample the top 10cm of seawater at the surface. They filtered out the plastic fragments and measured the pieces using imaging technology.
90 percent of the polymers found in the samples were polyethelene and polypropelene, components found in packaging. And its changing the Mediterranean biome.
"We observed benthic cyanobacteria in the middle of the Mediterranean. It's a species that is supposed to be living on the coast, and which is found in the middle of the sea, which will attract carbon dioxide. It's entirely a whole new ecosystem around these plastics."
Scientists say the Med is a hotspot for microplastics, being a large enclosed basin with millions of inhabitants on its coasts. Cleaning it up means more than litter collection.
"All the solutions are on land. Starting with us, meaning everyone's awareness, reducing our consumption, and then industrial policies that must really play their role."
The long-term study is due to be published at the end of the year. (Reuters)