The Arctic and the world's most densely populated cities have the same amount of plastic waste

Pollution continues to spread throughout the world despite the efforts of certain sectors and the setting of the problem on the agenda. In fact, the so-called global plastic flood has reached the Arctic, as warned by scientists at the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany, who have just confirmed that microplastic pollution in the polar region is now as present as anywhere else on Earth, with the consequential prejudices. His findings have just been published in the journal Nature Reviews Earth & Environment.

This new study suggests that waste from fabrics, personal care products, packaging and other everyday materials is ruining unspoiled nature, after being transported north to the Arctic Ocean by waves, wind and rivers. Specialists have confirmed that large quantities of microplastics can already be found in water, on the seabed, on remote beaches, in rivers and even in ice and snow.

Plastic is not only a burden on ecosystems, it could also worsen climate change, according to their international review study by specialists from the Alfred Wegener Institute. Lead author Melanie Bergmann stated that “the Arctic is still supposed to be a largely intact desert. In our review, which we conducted jointly with colleagues from Norway, Canada and the Netherlands, we show that this perception no longer reflects reality. Our northernmost ecosystems are already particularly affected by climate change. This is now exacerbated by plastic pollution. And our own research has shown that this negative action on the environment continues to worsen.”

The research involved the review of numerous studies to provide an overview of the latest findings. Today, between 19 and 23 million metric tons of plastic waste end up in the world's waters every year, which is equivalent to two trucks per minute. Discards accumulate in the oceans and gradually break down into smaller and smaller pieces, even reaching the human bloodstream through the shellfish that humans consume.

Virtually all marine organisms studied, from plankton to sperm whales, consume plastic by mistake, while global production of this type of waste is expected to double by 2045. It is ubiquitous and extends from the deepest ocean trenches to the tropics, and even to Mount Everest.

Microplastics have been shown to harm wildlife, but the impact on humans is unknown, although they have already been proven in the laboratory to damage human cells. Acrylic and polyester clothing fibers are shed in large quantities during washing, with an estimated 68 million washes calculated in the UK alone each week. The latest analysis led by German specialists paints the bleakest picture to date. The sparsely populated Arctic shows a level of pollution similar to that of densely inhabited towns and cities around the world. This includes virtually all habitats, from the beaches to the seabed, to the layers of the water column. The Atlantic, the North Sea and the North Pacific over the Bering Strait were identified as the main sources of plastic pollution.

The Arctic Ocean accounts for only one percent of the total volume of the world's seas, but receives more than 10 percent of the water discharge from rivers, which carry plastic into the ocean. Some of the most important local sources of pollution are municipal waste and wastewater from Arctic communities, while ships, particularly fishing vessels, also pose a serious problem. Whether they are intentionally thrown or lost by accident, nets and ropes represent a large part of the plastic recorded in the European Arctic sector.

“Unfortunately, there are very few studies on the effects of plastic on marine organisms in the Arctic,” Bergmann said. But there is evidence that the consequences there are similar to those of the best-studied regions. There, too, many animals (polar bears, seals, reindeer and seabirds) become entangled in plastic and die. At the same time, involuntarily ingested microplastic probably leads to a reduction in the growth and reproduction of fauna, physiological stress and inflammations in the tissues of marine animals, and even runs through the blood of humans.”

Available data on possible feedback effects between plastic waste and climate change are particularly scarce. “Here, there is an urgent need for more research,” Bergmann said. “Initial studies indicate that trapped microplastics change the characteristics of sea ice and snow.” Dark particles, for example, could mean that ice absorbs more sunlight and therefore melts faster. Known as the albedo effect, this can intensify global warming. Plastic particles in the atmosphere provide condensation for clouds and rain, which could influence the weather.

Throughout their life cycle, plastics are currently responsible for 4.5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. The Arctic, meanwhile, is the stabilizer of temperatures on the planet, which regulates them and circulates ocean currents, but it is warming much faster than the rest of the world, with parts melting at an alarming rate.

“Our review shows that the levels of plastic pollution in the Arctic coincide with those in other regions of the world,” the specialist continued. “This coincides with model simulations that predict an additional accumulation zone in the Arctic. But the consequences could be even more serious. As climate change progresses, the Arctic warms three times faster than the rest of the world. As a result, plastic flooding is affecting ecosystems that are already severely affected. In the course of negotiations over the next two years, effective and legally binding measures must be adopted that include reduction targets in plastic production,” he added.

In this regard, European countries must reduce their plastic production, just as rich Arctic states must reduce pollution from local sources and improve waste and wastewater management, which is often virtually non-existent in their communities, the experts said in their research.

“In addition, more regulations and controls are required, with regard to plastic waste from international shipping and fisheries,” Bergmann concluded. The study adds to the evidence that the world's smallest ocean, spanning nearly 10 million square kilometers, is critical in the climate change crisis. It surrounds the Arctic and flows beneath it. Most of it is covered by ice all year round, but that is starting to change as temperatures rise.

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