Microplastics Cripples Ocean's Capacity to Capture Carbon Dioxide

(MENAFN) Microscopic plastic debris infiltrating the planet's oceans is crippling their capacity to capture carbon dioxide, undermining a critical natural barrier against rising global temperatures, new research reveals.

Scientists report that minuscule plastic fragments are disrupting marine ecosystem functions that enable oceans to sequester carbon and maintain climate stability. The world's seas currently capture roughly one-quarter of carbon dioxide emissions produced by human activity annually.

"Oceans are the planet's largest carbon sink, and microplastics are undermining this natural shield against climate change," said Ihsanullah Obaidullah of the University of Sharjah, one of the study's authors.

Published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, the research draws conclusions from analyzing previously conducted scientific studies rather than performing original experimental work.

According to the findings, microplastic contamination hampers the biological carbon pump—a naturally occurring system powered by phytoplankton and zooplankton that moves carbon from ocean surfaces into deep waters. The researchers determined that these plastic particles diminish photosynthetic activity in phytoplankton while damaging zooplankton metabolic functions, thereby compromising this vital process.

The scientists additionally emphasized microorganisms that establish colonies on plastic debris, termed the "plastisphere," which can disrupt carbon and nitrogen cycles while generating greenhouse gas emissions.

"Microplastics disrupt marine life, weaken the biological carbon pump and even release greenhouse gases as they degrade," Obaidullah said, cautioning that prolonged impacts may encompass ocean temperature increases, acidification, and species diversity decline, threatening food supplies and populations living near coastlines.

While acknowledging mounting evidence of environmental damage, the study concedes that comprehensive understanding of microplastics' total climate consequences remains limited.

Worldwide plastic manufacturing reaches an estimated 400 to 430 million tons per year, yet under 10% undergoes recycling. Absent more rigorous regulations, output could surge threefold by 2060, researchers cautioned.

The study's authors pressed governments and global organizations to address plastic contamination and climate disruption as linked crises, demanding intensified initiatives to curtail plastic consumption, strengthen waste handling systems, and broaden investigation into microplastics' climate ramifications.

"Our next step is to quantify the climate impact of microplastics and develop integrated solutions," Obaidullah said, emphasizing that this challenge extends beyond a standalone environmental concern to represent a comprehensive global sustainability crisis.

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