Mikroskopiska plastpartiklar i havet: ursprung och effekter i marin milj\uf6

The issue of microscopic plastic particles was reported in Swedish media in 2008 afterrecords of high concentrations in the sea along the Swedish west coast. This study compilesexisting information about microscopic plastic particles in the oceans with the purpose toinvestigate their extent, origin and observed and potential effects on marine organisms. Theresults show that studies have been conducted since the 1970s, but that it still is aninadequately studied environmental issue. Contemporary studies have shown a globallywidespread and increasing distribution of plastic particles in the oceans. Nor\ue9n (2007) foundthat the particles were much smaller and far more by number than indicated in previousstudies. The results further show a separation of plastic particles in two size intervals;microscopic plastic particles