Global microplastic pollution at levels harmful to marine life.

ABSTRACT: Poor waste management has resulted in marine plastic litter increasing worldwide, and microplastics (MP) are now detected in all marine habitats. To better understand the distribution and ecological implications of MPs, we quantify the abundance of MP in all major marine habitats through a meta-analysis of data collected by systematic review. We extracted MP densities from 334 studies covering all major water column, intertidal, inshore and offshore seabed habitats from all continents. MPs are ubiquitous, and are present in all habitats in all continents with an average (± 95%CI) global density of 37,921 ± 13,925 particles m^-2 or 0.011 kg m^-2. MP densities in sediments are at least an order of magnitude higher than in the water column. Mean MP densities are highest in

SUBMITTER: Walton MEM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12675771 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature