Most of the tiny plastic particles entering the surface remain suspended in the surface layer. Some particles, however, can make their way to the deep sea.

New research suggests biological particles can help carry plastic pollution to the seafloor.

The oceans are filled with naturally occurring particles called biogenic particles -- living and dead plankton organisms, as well as their fecal matter. Previous studies showed biogenic particles can combine to form larger lumps called aggregates.

To test how plastic particles interact with biogenic particles, scientists tested the movement patterns of polystyrene beads measuring between 700 and 900 micrometers in a water column. The beads failed to form aggregates on their own. But when combined with biogenic particles, the beads and biological particles quickly coalesced, forming aggregates.

"While microplastic particles alone did nearly not aggregate at all, they formed quite pronounced and stable aggregates together with biogenic particles within a few days," Anja Engel, head of the GEOMAR research group, said in a news release.

In a followup experiment, scientists compared the movements of purified particles and particles coated with a biofilm. The particles coated with a biofilm formed aggregates with biogenic particles more quickly.

"If microplastics are coated with a biofilm and biogenic particles are simultaneously present, stable aggregates of microplastics and biogenic particles are formed very quickly in the laboratory," researcher Jan Michels said.

Scientists suggest the combination of abundant biogenic particles and plastic particles coated in biofilm is common throughout Earth's oceans.

"This is why the aggregation processes that we observed in our laboratory experiments very likely also take place in the oceans and have a great influence on the transport and distribution of microplastics," said researcher Kai Wirtz.

Scientists detailed their analysis of plastic particles this week in the journal Proceeding of the Royal Society B.

Previous studies have shown that micro plastics are ending up in the deep ocean and are being ingested by fish. The latest helps explain how the bits of plastic are making it to the deep sea.

Related Links
Our Polluted World and Cleaning It Up

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Russia blacklists US-based environmental group
Moscow (AFP) Aug 24, 2018
Russian authorities have placed a California-based environmental organisation on its "undesirable" blacklist, claiming Friday it poses a threat to "Russia state security". The Pacific Environment group is the 15th body - but the first environmental one - to be blacklisted. It works to protect Pacific rim communities and operates in the US as well as Asia and Arctic regions, according to its website. But Russia's General Prosecutor office said in a statement that it had been found to "pose ... read more