Millions of metric tons of plastic are produced
annually. Countless large items of plastic debris
are accumulating in marine habitats worldwide
and may persist for centuries (1–4). Here we
show that microscopic plastic fragments and fibers
(Fig. 1A) are also widespread in the oceans
and have accumulated in the pelagic zone and
sedimentary habitats. The fragments appear to
have resulted from degradation of larger items.
Plastics of this size are ingested by marine organisms,
but the environmental consequences
of this contamination are still unknown.
Over the past 40 years, large items of
plastic debris have frequently been recorded
in habitats from the poles to the
equator (1–4). Smaller fragments, probably
also plastic, have been reported (5) but
have received far less attention. Most
plastics are resistant to biodegradation, but
will break down gradually through mechanical
action (6). Many “biodegradable”
plastics are composites with materials
such as starch that biodegrade, leaving
behind numerous, nondegradable, plastic
fragments (6). Some cleaning agents also
contain abrasive plastic fragments (2).
Hence, there is considerable potential for
large-scale accumulation of microscopic
plastic debris.