Scientists from the University of Haifa in Israel have determined that the Eastern Mediterranean has become one of the world’s largest dumps for plastic waste on the seafloor.
A study published in the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin revealed an alarmingly high concentration of plastic and explained the mechanisms by which it sinks to the bottom. Using trawls, researchers examined the seabed and found that plastic bags and packaging make up the majority of the debris. To analyze the waste, scientists developed a new method that extracts maximum information from each item, including its size, color, integrity, and polymer composition.
A “Hot Zone” and Debris Basins
The research showed that a “hot zone” of debris accumulation has formed on the seabed off the coast of the Levant at a depth of 200 meters. Farther from the shore, at depths of up to 1,000 meters, so-called basins have formed where the final accumulation of waste occurs.
Scientists found that lighter plastics, such as polyethylene, sink slowly, becoming encrusted with shells and resin before settling at greater depths. Heavier plastics containing calcium carbonate additives sink faster, remaining closer to the shore.
Most of the pollution originates on land, from countries like Egypt, Israel, and Turkey. At greater depths, some of the plastic pollution comes from ships. Interestingly, the contribution from fishing was surprisingly small, likely due to strict regulations in Israel.
“The Eastern Mediterranean is gradually becoming a deep-sea dump,” noted co-author Professor Revital Bookman. She stated that plastic used for just a few minutes becomes trapped for centuries, posing a serious threat to deep-sea marine ecosystems.
