microplastics

Scientist Spotlight – Dr Alice Horton

Dr Alice Horton

The visible effects of plastic entering the ocean are unfortunately all too clear to us. But what happens to it under the surface? And what is the impact on delicate ocean ecosystems?

Ocean microplastics found to be rife by teams sailing around the world

Katsiaryna Pabortsava from NOC & Victoria Fulfer from University of Rhode Island analysing microplastic samples. Photo: Cherie Bridges – The Ocean Race
  • Up to nearly 1,900 microplastics per cubic metre (particles m−3)* of water have been found in samples collected by teams during the initial legs of The Ocean Race
  • Samples were analysed at the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) under the supervision of Dr Katsiaryna Pabortsava

Plastic-free July scientist spotlight – Meet a microplastics expert

Dr Mike Clare working in the NOC's British Ocean Sediment Core Research Facility (BOSCORF)

The visible effects of plastic entering the ocean are sadly all too clear to us now, but what about the plastic we can’t see?

Microplastics, overfishing and sea level rise among the UK’s biggest ocean concerns

A survey conducted by the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) in partnership with YouGov, has revealed the key concerns of ocean-related climate issues among the general public.

Citizen Science project to investigate the UK’s plankton communities underway

Will Major with a PlanktoScope

Scientists from the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) and Stanford University are today (11 March) hosting a special assembly to launch the Monitoring Anthropogenic Particles and Plankton using citizen Science (MAPPS) project to increase understanding of the UK’s plankton communities and the spread of microplastics.

The National Oceanography Centre Microplastics Team visits the Winchester Science Centre

On Friday 6 August 2021 the National Oceanography’s Microplastics Team visited the Winchester Science Centre to take part in their ‘Underwater Agents’ event, where we had the opportunity to educate children about the effects plastics have on our ocean.

Wastewater treatment protects the aquatic environment from microplastics

A sewage treatment facility

Research published by the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) this week in Environmental Pollution shows that wastewater treatment processes remove 99.8% microplastics from the treated wastewater released to rivers, meaning that the majority do not enter rivers, and therefore do not reach the

Drinking water treatment removes 99.99% microplastics

Research published this week shows that treating drinking water reduced the number of microplastic particles per litre by 99.99%.

New study estimates there is at least ten times more plastic in the Atlantic than previously thought

Dr Katsiaryna Pabortsava of the NOC, lead author of the paper

The mass of ‘invisible’ microplastics found in the upper waters of the Atlantic Ocean is approximately 12–21 million tonnes, according to research published in the journal Nature Communications.

Seafloor microplastic hotspots controlled by deep-sea currents

Simplified graphic showing how seafloor currents create microplastics hotspots in the deep-sea

New research has revealed the highest levels of microplastic yet recorded on the seafloor, with up to 1.9 million pieces in an area of just one square metre.

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