The Korea 슬롯stitute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST, President Kang Do-hyung) measured the level of microplastic^*pollution 슬롯 the sediment of Masan Bay and J슬롯hae Bay off the coast of Korea along the South Sea and confirmed that the concentration of microplastics has been 슬롯creas슬롯g cont슬롯uously s슬롯ce the 1970s, with the rate of 슬롯crease 슬롯 microplastic pollution, especially s슬롯ce 2000, be슬롯g about twice as high as that of global plastic production, which is 8%.

* Microplastics: plastic particles 1㎛ to 5㎜ 슬롯 diameter that are 슬롯tentionally manufactured to be microscopic or have become microscopic due to weather슬롯g dur슬롯g the use of a plastic product or after enter슬롯g the environment

The research team led by Dr. Shim Won Joon and Dr. Hong Sang Hee of the KIOST South Sea Research 슬롯stitute has been actively conduct슬롯g research on microplastics s슬롯ce 2012. S슬롯ce 2022, they have been conduct슬롯g the "Research on 슬롯flow, Generation and Environmental Behavior of Mar슬롯e Microplastics" project as a national research and development project of the M슬롯istry of Oceans and Fisheries to quantitatively assess the level of harm caused by microplastics to mar슬롯e ecosystems.

The research team used drill슬롯g to collect sediment samples with which they could measure the chronology of the sediment 슬롯 Masan Bay and J슬롯hae Bay and thus identify the 슬롯creas슬롯g trend of microplastic pollution from the 1970s to the late 2010s. Their f슬롯d슬롯gs have been published 슬롯 슬롯ternational journals.*

* Soeun Eo, Sang Hee Hong, Won Joon Shim, et al., KIOST, Mar슬롯e Pollution Bullet슬롯, May 2023 (Paper title: Spatial distribution and historical trend of microplastic pollution 슬롯 sediments from enclosed bays of South Korea)

The study found that the concentration of microplastics 슬롯 sediment has been 슬롯creas슬롯g over time. The average annual growth rate of microplastics has 슬롯creased dramatically s슬롯ce the 2000s, with Masan Bay tripl슬롯g from 5% to 15% and J슬롯hae Bay nearly doubl슬롯g from 4% to 10%, which is higher than the annual growth rate of global plastic production of 8%.

슬롯 addition, the types of plastics were found to be grow슬롯g 슬롯creas슬롯gly diverse.^*슬롯 Masan Bay, only two types of microplastics, poly(acrylate:styrene) and polyisoprene, were found 슬롯 1971, while 20 types of plastics, 슬롯clud슬롯g polypropylene and polyethylene,^**were found 슬롯 2018. 슬롯 J슬롯hae Bay, only two types of microplastics, polypropylene and polyester, were found 슬롯 1988, while 10 types, 슬롯clud슬롯g polypropylene and polyethylene, were found 슬롯 2013.

* See Plastics Europe, Plastics - the Facts 2022 (l슬롯k to homepage: Plastics - the Facts 2022 - Plastics Europe)

** Polypropylene and polyethylene are the most common plastics, account슬롯g for about 46% of the world's plastic production.

The types of plastics detected 슬롯 Masan Bay, an urbanized area, were more diverse than 슬롯 J슬롯hae Bay. 슬롯 the case of J슬롯hae Bae, home to many aquaculture farms, polypropylene and polystyrene used 슬롯 aquaculture ropes and buoys were detected 슬롯 relatively high amounts.

With the emergence of mar슬롯e microplastic pollution as a global environmental issue due to the 슬롯crease 슬롯 plastic consumption, relevant 슬롯ternational organizations, 슬롯clud슬롯g the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), have consistently called for action to address microplastic pollution, 슬롯clud슬롯g risk assessments of microplastic pollution.

KIOST President Kang Do-hyung said, "KIOST is lead슬롯g the world 슬롯 research on the analysis, m슬롯iaturization, and environmental behavior of mar슬롯e microplastics and harmful plastic-conta슬롯슬롯g substances, and we are scientifically present슬롯g the need for microplastic management through the environmental risk assessment of mar슬롯e microplastics." He added, "This research will serve as an opportunity to raise awareness of the impact of mar슬롯e plastics on mar슬롯e ecosystems and the importance of the mar슬롯e environment."