![]() ![]() Where's the rest of it? It's another mystery. The most recent counts add significantly to the knowledge base, yet even those big numbers are a fraction of the plastic that flows into the oceans every year. "If we are missing a major sink where there are major concentrations of plastic, we might not be learning how harmful plastics are." "The greater the concentration, the greater the potential risk for exposure," says Richard Thompson, a biologist at Plymouth University in England, whose study released last month identified microfibers widely disseminated throughout the deep ocean. What effect do they have on fish that consume them? ![]() There are still big, basic questions: As it degrades, do plastic toxins seep into the marine environment? If so, how and in what amounts?Īnd though scientists know a great deal about the damage to marine life caused by large pieces of plastic, the potential harm caused by microplastics is less clear. Indeed, until scientists learn more about where ocean trash is, how densely plastic accumulates in different ocean ecosystems, and how it degrades, they can't really calculate the damage it's causing. "The first piece is to understand where it is," says Kara Lavender Law, an oceanographer at the Sea Education Association in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Almost nothing was known about the amount of plastic in remote regions of the Southern Hemisphere, for example, until last year because few had ever traveled there to collect samples. But beyond the shock value, just how does adding up those rice-size fragments of plastic help solve the problem?Īlthough scientists have known for decades about the accumulating mass of ocean debris and its deadly consequences for seabirds, fish, and marine animals, the science of sea trash is young and full of as-yet-unsolved mysteries. The tallies, published last year in three separate scientific papers, are useful in red-flagging the scope of the problem for the public. Scientists call these statistics the "wow factor" of ocean trash. Of that mass, 269,000 tons float on the surface, while some four billion plastic microfibers per square kilometer litter the deep sea. Staying away from home is an effort for all of us, so we are trying to enjoy the time as best we can," Rins continued.The numbers are staggering: There are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris in the ocean. “We are using this time for some team building activities, which is something we enjoy that we try to do once or twice a year, and now we have the perfect chance. With paddock members only allowed out of their hotel to go to the Losail circuit, activities such as karting, cycling, and minibikes have been arranged. First of all, this means that we’re safer, and we can also be calmer thinking about the upcoming races.” Rins added: “Finally we decided to stay here because this way we can create a full bubble where the Suzuki Team are all together, with no exceptions. And besides, we are lucky because we are staying in a very nice hotel and being treated very well.” "I would not feel at ease being at home with my friends and family knowing that my crew and the whole team is in Qatar with limitations and sacrifice. "I want to protect myself and my loved ones, but also my team who is making efforts to start the season in the best way. “I decided to remain in Qatar as an act of responsibility, in regard to the risk of infection while travelling, for both ourselves and others," Mir said. Brad Binder: Traction, braking, tighter lines, sleepless nights… ![]()
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