River Ganga could be responsible for polluting the Bay of Bengal: Report
According to new research by an international team of scientists, the holy river could be responsible for up to 3 billion microplastic particles entering the Bay of Bengal every day.
Kolkata: With the combined flows of the Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers, the Ganga river could be responsible for up to 3 billion microplastic particles entering the Bay of Bengal every day, according to new research by an international team of scientists.
The microplastics identified were dominated by fibers and fragments, according to the study.
Ganga rises in the Himalayas and runs through India and Bangladesh, where it joins the Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers shortly before reaching the Indian Ocean.
Published in the journal
Nature Communications, a study by researchers from Canada found an average of 49 microplastic particles per cubic meter of seawater throughout the Arctic. Of these, 92.3 percent were synthetic fibers, most of which were polyester. These figures are approaching levels of plastic pollution seen in the more exposed Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
According to lead author Peter Ross, an ocean pollution expert with Ocean Wise Conservation Association, the dominance of polyester fibers highlights the role that the textile industry may have in the contamination of the world’s oceans.
Polyester fibers floating in the Arctic
The Arctic region is characterized as being the barometer of the planet’s health as it is vulnerable to changes in temperature. It may also hold clues that would allow experts to better understand environmental concerns like marine plastic pollution.
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Impacts of marine plastic pollution in south-east Asia researched
22 October 2020
Leading environmental and research agencies in the UK and in Singapore have announced funding support for four innovative international research collaborations.
The project will investigate how to reduce the impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems in south-east Asia.
The research collaborations represent a £6 million investment by:
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF)
UK government funding supported by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
Mitigation measures needed
The aim of the programme is to support collaborations between researchers in the UK, Singapore and the wider south-east Asia region. This will increase our understanding of the impacts and risks of plastics in marine ecosystems (including mangroves, coral reefs and beaches) and the essential services these ecosystems provide, in order to
Jan 19, 2021 06:52 AM EST
A type of underwater seagrass found in the Mediterranean Sea might just be one of the most efficient tools in combating oceanic water pollution.
(Photo : Arnaud Abadie via Wikimedia Commons) Mediterranean seagrass meadow
The Posidonia oceanica, more commonly known as Neptune grass or Mediterranean tapeweed, is a seagrass species that inhabit the Mediterranean waters.
These seagrasses are known for playing a vital role in maintaining the ecosystem. They create ball like by-products made from various fibrous materials from its foliage.
These by-products are called Neptune Balls.
At first glance, these Neptune balls look like a bunch of unimportant plant dirt that serves no purpose. Once they are detached from their respective seagrasses, they just wash up to the nearest shoreline.