The Exponential Increase of Microplastics in Sediment

Science Advances

When this study came out in September 2019, it received international media attention, because of our disturbing finding that microplastics were exponentially increasing in the sediment record over the last 75 years at the same rate as the exponential increase in worldwide plastics production over that period.

Here is just a sampling of the articles written about the piece, including an article that ran in print in the LA Times and one that was the lead story on the website for The Guardian.

After bronze and iron, welcome to the plastic age, say scientists - The Guardian

Plastic Will Be the Shameful Artifact Our Descendants Dig Up - Wired

Where Does All the Plastic Go? - The New Yorker

UCSD discovers surge in plastics pollution off Santa Barbara - LA Times, SD Union-Tribune

When future archaeologists study the earth, their main find will be plastic - World Economic Forum

Après l’age de pierre et l’âge du bronze, l’âge du plastique ? - Le Monde

Why 99% of ocean plastic pollution is “missing” - Vox; a video seen 5.2 million times that featured my sediment research