We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Waste Polystyrene Degradation in the World Oceans: Newly identified sources of Contamination
AI summary Read the abstract
This study tracked the breakdown of waste polystyrene in world oceans over time, using field surveys of thousands of sand and water samples from around the globe including deep-sea sites. Researchers identified newly recognized sources of polystyrene contamination contributing to ocean plastic pollution.
Abstract Since 1970, lumps of plastic breakage into micro/nano pieces has been clearly shown a serious and large source of ocean pollution. To clarify in detail the course of this impact, thermoplastics were decomposed at natural conditions kinetically. And field surveys conducted on four thousand sand and water samples including these at deep-sea sites from around the world during the period, 2000 to 2015. All samples were found to contain styrene oligomers (SOs), that had been generated from drifting polystyrene (PS) degradation. Lumps of plastic not only break up into micro/nano-fragments but also degrade into their basic structure units of plastic. From 1950 to 2015, 4.2 billion metric tons (MT) of SOs were shown to be generated from drifting PS. The monomers are newly and highly significant source of pollution of marine ecosystem directly and global warming of planet and should be given the utmost serious attention.
More Papers Like This
Waste Polystyrene Degradation in the World Oceans: Newly identified sources of Contamination
AI summary Read the abstract
This study tracked the breakdown of waste polystyrene in world oceans over time through kinetic field surveys of thousands of global sand and water samples including deep-sea sites. Researchers identified newly recognized contamination sources contributing to ocean polystyrene pollution.
Waste Polystyrene Degradation in the World Oceans: Newly identified sources of Contamination
AI summary Read the abstract
This is a third version of a study on waste polystyrene degradation in world oceans, tracking breakdown kinetics and identifying contamination sources through global field surveys of sand and water samples over several decades.
From coastlines to the deep sea
AI summary Read the abstract
This paper provides an overview of plastic pollution in the ocean, describing the sources, transport pathways, and environmental impacts of plastic debris from coastlines to deep-sea environments. It discusses how plastics fragment into microplastics over time and the challenges this poses for marine ecosystems.
Plastic Pollution in Oceans: a Review
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines plastic pollution in the world's oceans, covering sources, distribution pathways, ecological impacts, and the current state of scientific understanding of marine plastic contamination.
Nanoplastics in the oceans: Theory, experimental evidence and real world
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers critically review over 200 studies on nanoplastic pollution — focusing predominantly on polystyrene — synthesizing knowledge on how nanoplastics form from polymer degradation, accumulate in seawater, and affect organisms in controlled conditions, while identifying key methodological standards needed for reliable ecotoxicological assessments.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.