An estimated 2.3 million tons of plastic particles are currently floating around in the world’s oceans, according to scientists.
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00:00Approximately 2.3 million tons of plastic particles are floating in the world's oceans,
00:04according to a new study. Scientists believe there are over 171 trillion plastic particles
00:09polluting oceans across the world, with the highest concentrations of microplastics in
00:14the Mediterranean Sea, Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and the Yellow Sea. The rapid increase
00:19of ocean plastic pollution has created what scientists are calling a plastic smog. Since
00:242005, the amount of plastic in our oceans has increased exponentially and reached unprecedented
00:29levels. In comparison, according to the study's researchers, there was an estimated 16 trillion
00:35plastic particles floating in the ocean. 18 years later, that number is 10 times higher,
00:40and scientists warn that if nothing changes in maritime policies, the number could increase
00:442.6 times by 2040. The study's authors claim that although cleanup and recycling efforts
00:50are helpful, the most impactful change would be decreasing plastic production and use across the
00:55globe.