A study by Dutch scientists showed that less plastic enters the oceans than previously thought, but the waste remains in the water for a long time.

Experts from the University of Utrecht estimate that the level of plastic pollution in the oceans is more than 25 million tons, of which up to 3 million are on the surface. Less new plastic is found in the ocean each year than previously thought – about 500 thousand tons instead of 4-12 million. This is reported in the publication of the journal Natural Geology.

Estimating the amount of surface and new plastic content allows us to conclude that litter remains in ocean water longer than previously shown by ecologists’ calculations. The authors of the scientific study note that the lack of cleanup and emissions reduction efforts will lead to a doubling of plastic waste over the next 20 years. Therefore, scientists assume that by 2075 there will be more than 50 million tons of plastic in the ocean.