A study conducted by the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) at Stony Brook University has found that microplastics in ocean samples may be distorting scientific understanding of the ocean’s carbon cycle. The research, published in PLOS One, indicates that current methods for measuring carbon in ocean water and sediments could be inaccurately attributing plastic-derived carbon to natural sources.
Researchers discovered that when microplastics are collected along with natural organic particles from the ocean, the carbon released during analysis is counted as if it came from organic matter. This misattribution can affect calculations about how much carbon the oceans absorb and store, a process essential for regulating atmospheric carbon levels and predicting climate change.
Microplastics are present throughout marine environments. These small fragments result from the breakdown of larger plastic debris or originate directly from products such as cosmetics and industrial materials. They enter the sea via rivers, wastewater, or runoff before dispersing into both coastal and open-ocean waters.
The SoMAS team used standard analytical techniques to measure carbon content in various water and sediment samples. They then compared the amount of carbon coming from both microplastic contaminants and natural sedimentary organic matter.
The researchers suggest that current measurement protocols need to be revised to account for microplastic contamination in order to improve predictions related to climate change impacts on ocean systems.