Why does this matter? As many of us head off to the beach for our summer holidays, this study serves as a sobering reminder that ocean plastic pollution is an ever-growing issue. As more tourists flock to coastal areas, the volume of single-use plastics, such as bottles, wrappers and bags, often increases, much of it ending up in the sea. It should also make us more mindful of how we dispose of waste and consider using more reusable items.

Nano plastics, which are less than 1,000 nm across and invisible to the eye, can enter the ocean through multiple channels. For example, sunlight, ocean turbulence and temperature fluctuations cause larger plastic items to degrade into smaller particles, eventually reaching the nanoscale.

Nano plastics and larger microplastics – particles less than 5 mm across – resulting from industrial processes, washing synthetic fibres and tyre abrasion, among others, can also flow in from rivers or descend from the air. With an estimated 14 million mt of plastic leaking into the ocean every year, a figure that continues to rise, critical measures are needed now to address the problem.

The study also identified polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polystyrene (PS) in the collected samples. However, the researchers’ estimate is likely conservative as they were unable to detect two other major classes of plastics known as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), although it is highly probable that these also enter the ocean. The team plans further investigations to understand if these particles were obscured by other molecules in the study. They also want to determine if nano plastics are as prevalent in oceans elsewhere.

Recent research has revealed that micro and nano plastics are ingested by a broad range of aquatic species, from microalgae to predators such as eels, with harmful effects including digestive blockages, immune responses, DNA damage and altered gene expression. The severity of these impacts depends on particle size, chemical composition and degradation. Many plastics also contain endocrine disruptors that interfere with hormonal systems.

Ultimately, these particles enter the human food chain, with regular seafood consumers ingesting thousands every year. While health effects are still being studied, early evidence suggests similar risks in humans, including cellular disruption and exposure to toxic additives. Nano plastics may also act as vectors for pathogens or bacteria, potentially raising the risk of infectious diseases.

Another recent study highlights that micro- and nano plastics are discharged in sea sewage spills. When combined with coastal winds, billions of these particles could lift from the sea and enter the air around coastal towns and cities and be inhaled by residents, posing another potential route for the health risks linked to plastics. The authors have urged the UK government to require water companies to filter out micro- and nano plastics from their wastewater.

Still, removing the vast amount of nano plastics already in the ocean is impossible with current technologies. Instead, the focus must be on prevention. Recycling efforts are key, and the global market for recycled ocean plastics is gaining robust momentum. According to a Custom Market Insights report, it is expected to be worth approximately $1.9 billion this year and could reach $3.5bn by 2034.

Bureo is one such company operating in this space, taking discarded fishing nets and transforming them into 100% recycled raw materials used by household names such as Toyota, Patagonia and Trek. Another player in the area is AION, which recycles ocean plastic into everyday items such as shopping baskets and trays that can be returned for further recycling in a truly circular approach.

Beyond recycling, the world must simply use less plastic. Currently, more than 400 million mt of plastic is produced annually and could triple by 2060.

The next meeting to create the legally binding Plastics Treaty will take place from 5 to 14 August in Geneva, Switzerland. This will attempt to finalise the text after negotiations stalled at the previous round of talks in Busan, South Korea, in late 2024. Nevertheless, at the close of that meeting, 100 countries warned there could be no treaty without a cap on plastic production, a call that was reiterated at the UN Ocean Conference in June. The world will be watching to see if this can finally be achieved in the coming weeks.