Scientists in the Netherlands have found that the problem of plastic pollution in the oceans is not as big as previously thought. They discovered this through careful research.
One important finding is that the amount of plastic that gets into the oceans from rivers is much less than people believe. This is good news because it means that efforts to clean up the oceans and rivers are making a big positive impact on the environment.
Before this research, estimates said 50 million and 300 million tons of plastic had entered the oceans over 20 years. But the actual amount is closer to 3.2 million tons.
This new understanding is important because it shows that a lot of plastic doesn’t even end up in the water and often gets stuck in rivers. The findings also mean that it’s possible for people to make a real difference by cleaning up rivers and oceans, and even a little effort can have a big impact on the environment.