Microplastics in oceans – how much? From where? | Umweltbundesamt

The study recommends to focus not only on primary microplastics but also on making must more drastic reductions in the inputs of plastics to the environment. This is the only way to effectively prevent the generation of secondary microplastics in oceans and inland waters – not only in Germany or the EU but worldwide. In the meantime, German-led global and regional action plans to combat marine litter have been adopted in the G7 process, under the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (⁠OSPAR⁠) and the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area (HELCOM). A comprehensive programme for Germany's North and Baltic Seas has been launched to implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC).

Some of the measures of these action plans are already being implemented, for example the Fishing-For-Litter Initiative in which fishing boats are designed to be able to store litter collected from the sea on board and then dispose of it free of charge and appropriately in harbours. All of Germany's coastal states now support and participate in the project.

Plastics are becoming an increasing threat to marine ecosystems. Plastics represent the lion's share of the litter found on Europe's beaches (75% on average). There are 663 species which are known to suffer from this litter. More than half of them ingest plastic litter or become entangled in it. Microparticles – depending on the size of the organism – can cause just as much injury to the digestive tract as larger plastic parts, thus hampering digestion or even blocking food uptake. Plastic microparticles can also act as a means of transport for pollutants, invasive species and pathogens.

In addition to polyethylene in cosmetic products, the authors of the study analysed other applications of primary microplastics. The authors estimated the quantity used for detergents and cleaning agents and blasting agents in Germany to be less than 100 tonnes per year each. Microparticles in synthetic waxes were estimated to be around 100,000 tonnes per year. These are waxlike dispersions of plastic particles that are used as abherents and for surface coatings. Other sources of secondary plastic microparticles include synthetic fibres washed out of clothing and other textiles (80-400 t/a), tyre abrasion from road traffic (60,000-111,000 t/a) and pellet loss during the production and transport of plastics (21,000-210,000 t/a).