Plastic Is Sinking to the Ocean Floor | Orange County News

Orange County News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 3, 2026 · 1m

New research reveals millions of tons of plastic—including microplastics—are sinking to the ocean floor, turning deep trenches and continental shelves into hidden dumping grounds. Once focused on surface pollution, scientists now realize this underwater accumulation is devastating deep-sea ecosystems, exposing organisms to ingestion, entanglement, and habitat disruption. The cause? A mix of biofouling and natural sinking of denser plastics. This discovery reshapes our understanding of plastic’s global reach and underscores the urgent need for solutions to protect marine life from this…