There has been a rapid rise in the abundance of ocean plastic since 2005

Estimated global count of microplastic particles in the ocean surface layer, trillions

350tn

300

250

200

Wider confidence intervals due

to fewer samples before 1990

Mean

150

100

50

0

1980

1990

2000

2010

2019

350tn

300

250

200

Wider confidence intervals due

to fewer samples before 1990

Mean

150

100

50

0

1980

1990

2000

2010

2019

Source: Plos One/M Eriksen, W Cowger, LM Erdle, S Coffin, P Villarubia-Gómez, CJ Moore et al, 2023