Thursday, October 30, 2025
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Terms & Conditions
Environmental Magazine
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Recycling
  • Air
  • Fossil Fuels
  • Water
No Result
View All Result
Environmental Magazine
  • Home
  • News
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Recycling
  • Air
  • Fossil Fuels
  • Water
No Result
View All Result
Environmental Magazine
No Result
View All Result
Home Activism

Arctic Ocean now has plastic pollution comparable to densely populated regions

April 8, 2022
in Activism
A A

An international review study of Arctic waters has found large quantities of microplastics across the region.

Researchers from the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) have conducted a ground-breaking investigation into the spread of plastic pollution to the world’s High North, with alarming results. 

Between 19 and 23 million metric tonnes of plastic enter the world’s waters each year, and it has long been understood that even remote areas are falling victim to this pollution, with materials carried on tides, particles present in the air, and waste and spillages from shipping routes helping spread the problem. Almost all marine organisms in every ocean have come into contact with plastic debris and microplastics, with experts now clear the Arctic is no different.

‘The Arctic is still assumed to be a largely untouched wilderness,’ said AWI expert Dr Melanie Bergmann. ‘In our review, which we jointly conducted with colleagues from Norway, Canada and the Netherlands, we show that this perception no longer reflects the reality. Our northernmost ecosystems are already particularly hard hit by climate change. This is now exacerbated by plastic pollution. And our own research has shown that the pollution continues to worsen.

Rivers, the seabed, beaches, and water column were all found to have similar levels of plastic pollution compared to densely populated regions of the world. Local and distant sources are believed to be responsible, with the Atlantic, North Sea, and North Pacific essentially acting as massive plastic-filled tributaries. 

Other major contributing factors include microplastic particles being carried northwards in the air, and concerns have also been raised about the impact of rivers. The Arctic itself is only home to 1% of the planet’s fresh water streams, but it receives around 10% of global water discharge from rivers in nearby areas such as Siberia. 

Spacehouse Ltd, publisher of both Environment Journal and Air Quality News, is sponsoring an expedition to the Arctic with the aim of collecting data on black carbon and plastic pollution. Watch exclusive footage from the B.I.G. North Pole Expedition here. 

Image credit: Daiwei Lu

 

ShareTweetSharePinSendShare

Related Articles

Activism

Will COP30 Finally Prioritize Indigenous Voices?

October 23, 2025
Activism

How a Declaration of Ancestral Wisdom Is Changing Law, Science and Our Understanding of the World

October 17, 2025
Activism

The Death Toll Is Rising from Ecuador’s Crackdown on Protesters

October 16, 2025
Activism

Montana Court Dismisses Youth-led Lawsuit Challenging Trump Executive Orders Boosting Fossil Fuels

October 16, 2025
Activism

Illinois Residents Urge Lawmakers to Act on Transit, Energy Bills

October 15, 2025
Activism

Coal Miners and Advocates Plead With Trump to Enforce Black Lung Rule

October 14, 2025

Recommended

Rights of Nature Defender Wins Goldman Prize for Precedent-Setting Work Protecting an Imperiled River

April 21, 2025

Royal Society of Chemistry calls for Chemicals Agency as report finds ‘regulatory chaos’ across sector

June 5, 2024

Don't miss it

Energy

A Home Energy Fair Offers a Counter Narrative to Cynicism About Climate Change

October 30, 2025
Air

ExxonMobil Chemical fined £176,000 for six days of flaring

October 30, 2025
News

Water sector needs to think differently about its urgent skills gap, says CIWEM report

October 30, 2025
News

UK produces its first home-sourced lithium hydroxide, in Cornwall

October 30, 2025
Fossil Fuels

Four Governors Whose States Rely on PJM Want Data Centers to Guarantee Their Own Power

October 30, 2025
Fossil Fuels

AI Is Pushing Climate Goals Out of Reach, New Reports Say

October 29, 2025
Environmental Magazine

Environmental Magazine, Latest News, Opinions, Analysis Environmental Magazine. Follow us for more news about Enviroment and climate change from all around the world.

Learn more

Sections

  • Activism
  • Air
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Fossil Fuels
  • News
  • Uncategorized
  • Water

Topics

Activism Air Climate Change Energy Fossil Fuels News Uncategorized Water

Recent News

A Home Energy Fair Offers a Counter Narrative to Cynicism About Climate Change

October 30, 2025

ExxonMobil Chemical fined £176,000 for six days of flaring

October 30, 2025

© 2023 Environmental Magazine. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Recycling
  • Air
  • Fossil Fuels
  • Water

© 2023 Environmental Magazine. All rights reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.