Plastic pollution spends a century on ocean surface, study finds

Plastic pollution in the ocean could remain on the water’s surface for more than a century, a new study has found.

Scientists from HR Wallingford, in Oxfordshire, and Queen Mary University created a model to simulate the breakdown of plastic and how long it takes to end up in the deep sea.

They found that existing pollution would still float on the surface for more than 100 years, even if no more floating plastic was dumped in the ocean.

Those behind the study said the research offered “critical insights” into “the challenges of removing plastic from marine environments”.