Paint flakes are an abundant form of microplastic that should not be overlooked, particularly as some may have toxic properties. Through a series of studies conducted throughout the North Atlantic Ocean, researchers have analyzed that each cubic meter of seawater contained an average of 0.01 paint flakes .
The study , published in Science of the Total Environment , was conducted by scientists from the University of Plymouth and the Marine Biological Association (MBA).
Microplastics
Paint flakes, thus, would rank second in terms of recorded abundance after microplastic fibers, which have an estimated concentration of around 0.16 particles per cubic meter.
A detailed chemical analysis of some of the flakes, performed on some of the particles collected during the studies, also revealed high amounts of copper, lead, iron, and other elements. This is because they are designed to have anti-fouling or anti-corrosion properties.
As Andrew Turner , associate professor of environmental science at the University of Plymouth, and lead author of the current study explains:
Paint particles have often been an overlooked component of marine microplastics, but this study shows that they are relatively abundant in the ocean. The presence of toxic metals like lead and copper presents additional risks to wildlife.