Overview

• Nanoplastics outweigh macro- and microplastics by mass across all sampled depths in the North Atlantic.
• Surveys at 12 sites detected nanoscale debris from near-surface waters (10 m) down to over 4,500 m above the seabed.
• PET, PS and PVC nanoparticles comprised most of the detected mass, whereas no PE or PP particles were found.
• The study builds on samples collected during a 2020 RV Pelagia expedition spanning the European continental shelf to the subtropical gyre.
• Authors say integrating nanoplastic data into global marine pollution models is essential for closing gaps in the ocean’s plastic budget.