Mediterranean Deepest Point Becomes Plastic Dump, Study Finds
The Mediterranean Sea has turned into Europe deepest garbage dump with plastic waste found at a record depth of 5,112 meters in the Calypso Deep a trench within the Ionian Sea. Researchers discovered 167 pieces of trash mostly plastic, along with metal cans and paper cartons at the bottom, according to a new study published in Marine Pollution Bulletin.
Plastic made up 88% of the waste collected from the seabed. Though no interactions between the litter and rare deep-sea life were observed, scientists warn that pollution at such depths poses a serious threat to marine ecosystems.
A team from the University of Barcelona used the high-tech manned submarine Limiting Factor to explore the Calypso Deep. The sub covered 650 meters in 43 minutes, revealing an alarming accumulation of waste....