Scientists discover microplastics in Vancouver ocean water samples

A group of scientists have launched a challenge to combat plastic pollution in local waters by asking people to reduce single-use items like plastic cups and shopping bags and be more mindful of everyday plastic use.

The scientists, with the Ocean Wiseprogram,gathered water samples from the watersjust outside Canada Place 10 days ago and found 1,258 tiny particles of plastic in one cubic metreof seawater.

Ocean Wise is an ocean conservation organizationheadquartered at the Vancouver Aquarium.

90 per cent plastic fibres

"Ninetyper cent of the particles we examined were fibres," said Dr. Peter Ross, vice-president of research at Ocean Wise.

"The fibres consisted of polyester, rayon, modified cellulose, polyethylene and polypropylene. These are the ingredients of textiles, clothing, curtains, carpets," Rosssaid.

Anysynthetic particle smaller than five millimetres is considered a microplastic, Ross said.

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He said the presence of microplastics in the ocean confuse plankton and fish into thinking they are food items, leading to starvation, weakness and ultimately death for these creatures.

Government, industry and the public are being askedto sign up for a year-long initiative called #BePlasticWise toget monthly challenges and tips on how to reduce the useof single-use plastics.

"Plastic contamination is found from pole to pole, so the high levels of microplastics we're finding in an ocean city as green as Vancouver raise the question: What does this mean for other parts of the world that are not as pristine?" saidOcean Wise president and CEO JohnNightingale.

The#BePlasticWise initiatvie was launched during the GLOBE Forum, a bi-annualgathering where business and government leaders from over 50 countries meetto discuss ways to advance sustainability.

On its website,Ocean Wise says plastic waste is collecting "in the ocean at a rate of one dump truck full every minute."

"Some have estimated that by 2040 or 2050, there will be more pounds of plastic in the ocean than there are fish," said Nightingale.

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Federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna and provincial counterpart George Heyman signed the pledge at a news conference Wednesdaymorning.

Others signatories included author Douglas Coupland, Ratana Stephen, the co-founder of Nature's Path Foods, and Ken Flores, general manager of the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel.