Table 2.
Plastic density in sub-surface waters.
| Ocean | Cruise/region | Depth (m) | min (µm) | n | Particles/m3 | µg/L | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean | Std | Max | Mean | Max | |||||
| 38Atlantic | Equatorial 2003–04 | 0.6 | 300 | 88 | 0.01 | n. m | n. m | n. m | n. m |
| 39N Pacific | NE Pacific 2012 | 4.5 | 62.5 | 34 | 2080 | 2190 | 9180 | 64.9 | 286 |
| 40N Atlantic | IR & UK 2013 | 3 | 250 | 470 | 2.46† | 2.43 | 22.5 | 0.71 | 6.53 |
| 41Arctic | Barents Sea 2014 | 6 | 250 | 75 | 2.68† | 2.95 | 11.5 | 0.51 | 2.17 |
| 42N Atlantic | 2014 | 3 | 10 | 23 | 148 | 131 | 501 | 0.066 | 0.223 |
| 43Arctic | 2005 & 2014 | 0–50 | 500 | 38 | 1.72† | 0.93 | 4.52 | N. m | N. m |
| 44N Pacific | Off California 2017 | 5–1000 | 100 | 17 | 4.6 | 3.1 | 11 | N. m | N. m |
| 45Atlantic | AMT26 JR16001 2016 | 10–240 | 25 | 36 | 2782 | 3393 | 11,693 | 0.997 | 2.895 |
| 46Arctic | West Greenland 2019 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 142 | 85.83 | 278 | 0.029 | 0.051 |
When the studies report data for particles < 5 mm (microplastics) separately these values are shown here. Bold indicates measured values. Mass estimates were obtained from particle size data assuming density = 1, cylindrical shape for fibers and spherical shape otherwise. n.m. not measured or unavailable data. †> 95% fibers.