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The ‘great Pacific garbage patch’ is 3 times the size of FRANCE

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great pacific garbage patchThe ‘great Pacific garbage patch’ is 3 times the size of FRANCE

  • The ‘great Pacific garbage patch’ is bigger than thought: Toxic area is three times the size of FRANCE and contains 79,000 tonnes of plastic
  • ‘Great Pacific garbage patch’ is the world’s largest accumulation of ocean plastic
  • Research suggests that there is far more plastic waste in the area than thought
  • Microplastics are accumulating in the region says the Ocean Cleanup Project
  • The toxic particles get into our food supply when they are eaten by fish and can penetrate our internal organs

By HARRY PETTIT

The largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world, known as the ‘great Pacific garbage patch’, is now three times the size of France, new research has found.

Aerial images reveal 79,000 tonnes of plastic in the huge ocean accumulation zone west of California, a figure 16 times higher than previous estimates.

The results suggest that there is far more plastic in the area than scientists thought, and that microplastics are rapidly accumulating in the region, researchers at the Ocean Cleanup Project found.

The tiny toxic particles get into our food supply when they are eaten by fish and can penetrate our internal organs and carry toxic chemicals into the body.

The authors caution that more research is needed to quantify sources of ocean plastics in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and to better assess how long plastics stay in this area

The authors caution that more research is needed to quantify sources of ocean plastics in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and to better assess how long plastics stay in this area

The largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world, known as the 'great Pacific garbage patch', is now three times the size of France, new research has found. Pictured is a modelled mass concentration of plastic in the area
The largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world, known as the ‘great Pacific garbage patch’, is now three times the size of France, new research has found. Pictured is a modelled mass concentration of plastic in the area

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Pacific Trash Vortex

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a collection of marine debris in the North Pacific Ocean. Also known as the Pacific trash vortex, the garbage patch is actually two distinct collections of debris bounded by the massive North Pacific Subtropical Gyre.

Study coauthor and Ocean Cleanup scientist Dr Laurent Lebreton told MailOnline: ‘The great Pacific garbage patch (GPGP) is located half way between Hawaii and California.
‘It is formed by converging currents at the sea surface and accumulates floating plastic waste.
‘Plastic waste may decompose into small fragments, often referred as microplastics that may be harmful to marine life.’
Dr Lebreton and his team at the Ocean Cleanup Foundation, based in Delft, the Netherlands, have conducted the most extensive analysis ever of the GPGP.

Daily Mail

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4 responses to “The ‘great Pacific garbage patch’ is 3 times the size of FRANCE”

  1. Rascal Avatar
    Rascal

    There is no question, we are slowly killing this world. A mass cleansing will come and no allah or any of the various gods can save it.

    1. Arzna Avatar
      Arzna

      This kind of news will please Lebanese president Michel Aoun, since now can say ” there is a place that has more garbage than Lebanon” lol.
      But joking apart you nailed it ! specially since this huge garbage patch is close to the US , whose president has refused to sign the Paris accord . What a shame , now we have to snack on crispy plastic bags !!

      1. Y K Avatar
        Y K

        With respect, I understand that Trump is responsible for all of the world’s problems, but
        what does plastic garbage have to do with the Paris accords?

        1. Arzna Avatar
          Arzna

          This is all about Pollution & Climate Change. I am surprised you didn’t pick up the connection with Trump and his lack of concern for the environment .
          “Garbage patch? Can you hear me? Yes, good, I’m sure you’re busy, choking wildlife and trying to exist between gyres while making sure you can be seen from space, but I just wanted to say, of all the trash on earth you really are my favourite.” Trump said last week in a call supposedly made to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch To Congratulate It On Surpassing Size Estimates

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