Scientists at Stony Brook University found that microplastics can release carbon during laboratory combustion in a way that mimics natural organic matter, meaning common tools may misidentify plastic-derived carbon as particulate organic carbon. This contamination could have skewed decades of ocean carbon measurements and introduced errors into climate-related models. Microplastics are widespread in water and food, and researchers are testing removal methods (one pairing of boiling and filtration removed nearly 90% in tests). Reducing single-use plastics and improving sampling protocols are key next steps.
Microplastics Could Be Skewing Ocean Carbon Data — And Climate Models May Be Affected
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Microplastics in the world's oceans may be interfering with the very measurements scientists use to track how carbon moves through marine systems — a finding that could have ripple effects for climate research.
What researchers found
Researchers at Stony Brook University report that tiny plastic particles unintentionally collected with ocean samples can release carbon during laboratory analysis that is indistinguishable from natural organic matter. The study shows that combustion-based methods commonly used to measure particulate organic carbon (POC) cannot reliably separate plastic-derived carbon from biological carbon.
“We demonstrate that the tools used to measure carbon in the ocean cannot distinguish between natural carbon from living organisms and carbon that comes from plastic,” said corresponding author Luis Medina in a university news release. “This ultimately means that many measurements of particulate organic carbon may be unintentionally impacted by the presence of microplastics.”
Why this matters
The ocean carbon cycle — from atmospheric CO2 dissolving in surface waters, to phytoplankton uptake and the sinking of "marine snow" into the deep ocean — plays a central role in regulating Earth’s climate. If microplastic contamination has biased POC measurements, some estimates of how much carbon the oceans store or export may be inaccurate, and models that rely on those data could carry corresponding errors.
The authors warn that decades of particle-carbon measurements may be affected. Other research estimates roughly 170 trillion plastic particles are currently dispersed through the oceans, increasing the chance of contamination in routine sampling.
Health and environmental context
Beyond measurement issues, microplastics are a growing environmental and human-health concern. They have been detected in drinking water, beverages and foods such as chicken and tofu, and evidence shows they can accumulate in organs including kidneys and the brain. While the long-term human health impacts remain under investigation, laboratory studies have linked microplastic exposure to biological effects, including possible impacts on gut-associated nervous system function in animal studies.
Removal and mitigation
Researchers are developing methods to reduce microplastic contamination. One recent test reported that a dual approach of boiling followed by filtration removed nearly 90% of microplastic particles from water samples. While promising, such methods require validation at larger scales and adaptation for field sampling and analysis.
What scientists and the public can do
To protect data quality and reduce environmental impact, scientists should refine sampling and analytical protocols to detect and account for plastic contamination. Members of the public can help by reducing single-use plastics, choosing reusable containers, and supporting policies and innovations that curb plastic waste.
Bottom line: Addressing microplastic contamination is important not only for human and ecosystem health but also to ensure the integrity of the ocean measurements that underpin climate science and policy.
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