Plastic waste is being swept thousands of meters below the ocean surface by fast-moving underwater flows, concentrating pollution in ecologically rich deep-sea areas.
Rob Hutchins reports for Oceanographic Magazine.
In short:
- Researchers from The University of Manchester and the UK’s National Oceanography Centre documented turbidity currents — underwater sediment flows — that carry microplastics from the continental shelf into the deep sea.
- Using real-time monitoring in Whittard Canyon, they confirmed these currents transport not only natural sediment but also synthetic microplastic fibers, mostly from textiles, that escape wastewater treatment.
- These flows deposit microplastics in biodiversity-rich deep sea zones, raising concern over the compound threats posed by plastics acting as carriers for toxic chemicals.
Key quote:
“Microplastics on their own can be toxic to deep-sea life, but they also act as ‘carriers’, transferring other harmful pollutants such as PFAs, ‘forever chemicals’, and heavy metals which makes them an environmental ‘multi-stressor’ which can affect the entire food chain.”
— Peng Chen, lead author on the study at the University of Manchester
Why this matters:
The deep sea is revealing itself to be far more connected to the surface than scientists once believed, especially when it comes to plastic pollution. Recent studies show that microplastics are not merely drifting downward at a glacial pace; they’re being delivered in surging torrents by powerful underwater avalanches called turbidity currents. This means that even remote deep-sea habitats — home to slow-growing corals, ancient sea cucumbers, and other fragile life forms — are being flooded with synthetic pollutants, which then enter food chains. These findings broaden our understanding of how far and how fast plastic pollution travels.
Related EHN coverage: Plastic pollution in the ocean
