Research: Plastic accumulation in Pacific Ocean may be changing water color

Norwegian researchers examined 20-year satellite records of the region and its surroundings, called the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch", where thousands of tons of plastic waste accumulated under the influence of ocean currents.

Investigating 3 separate satellite records of ocean waters in the North Pacific covering the period 2002-2022, researchers determined that the color of ocean waters, which contain microplastics invisible to the naked eye as well as fishing nets and food packaging, has turned into "distinctly light blue and green tones".

Although researchers focused on the possibility that the biochemical structure in the ocean may have changed color due to natural causes, investigations found that the main reason for this change in the water is more than 4 times more likely to be microplastic accumulation.

Shea Cheatham, one of the authors of the study, told CNN that more studies need to be done to prove that the color change observed in satellite data is "solely and directly" caused by plastic.

Details of the research were published in the journal Nature.

Approximately 13 million tons of plastic enters the ocean annually

Scientists estimate that approximately 13 million tons of plastic waste mixes with ocean waters every year, while a small portion of it, approximately 250 thousand tons, is floating on the surface.

Plastic waste that enters the ocean can be consumed by marine creatures and progress through the food chain.

Thus, microplastics, which can be detected in seafood offered for human consumption, can threaten not only the ocean ecosystem but also human health.