A haze of plastics and microplastics floats at the ocean surface before sinking into the water column

Recent studies (2025-26) reveal that microplastics are ubiquitous throughout the ocean water column, from the surface to the deep-sea floor, with levels in the Pacific doubling every 11 years. #WetTribe #TidetotheOcean #MicroplasticMonday #Microplastics

An approaching tropical storm as viewed from a causeway bridge

Plastic hasn’t just polluted the land and oceans. Research has found microplastics in cloud water, which are influencing how clouds form by acting as seeds for ice crystals, thereby accelerating the formation of storms and increasing their strength. #WetTribe #TidetotheOcean #MicroplasticMonday

Collecting microplastics in a metal screen at the coast

Microplastics mixed with organic debris

Labelled microplastics in a petri dish

These microplastic biofilm 'plastispheres' may introduce disease-causing bacteria into the food chain, making infections harder to treat and posing a growing public health threat. #WetTribe #TidetotheOcean #MicroplasticMonday

A sample of microplastic biofilm in a glass beaker

Microplastics develop biofilms that harbor dangerous bacteria and potentially spread antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Microplastics in wastewater carry more drug-resistant genes and may introduce disease-causing bacteria. #WetTribe #TidetotheOcean #MicroplasticMonday

Two hands full of colorful primary and secondary microplastic fragments in the shallows.

New research suggests that microplastic particles are accumulating in areas crucial to marine life, including sea turtle habitats, as well as marine environments inhabited by whales and dolphins. #WetTribe #TidetotheOcean #MicroplasticMonday

A plastic bag, a straw, a soda can, and miscellaneous debris, floating on the surface of the sea, photographed from beneath.

Most of the pollution running into the seas off the southern coast of the US comes from rivers, exposing critical wildlife habitats to growing threats from microplastics and other pollutants. #WetTribe #TidetotheOcean #MicroplasticMonday

A close-up of an ocean researcher's hands as he sorts colored flecks of microplastics from brown organic debris on a seawater sample using tweezers and a metal sieve.

“71% of ocean microplastics are plastic microfibers, the type found in synthetic clothing, textiles, and fishing gear.” #WetTribe #TidetotheOcean #MicroplasticMonday #Research #Microplastics #Microfibers #FastFashion #CommercialFishing #Automotive

Microplastics and microfibers under the microscope

Microfibers are a prevalent category of microplastics and constitute a significant portion of microplastics in the ocean. The colors and shapes suggest they are from single-use plastic, fishing gear, and synthetic clothing. #WetTribe #TidetotheOcean #MicroplasticMonday #Microplastics #Microfibers

Collecting microplastic samples for research

Microplastic concentrations vary widely across different ocean regions, with a reported range of 0.002 to 22 items/m³ globally. #WetTribe #TidetotheOcean #MicroplasticMonday #Microplastics #Microfibers

Research sailboat using a manta trawl

Microplastics in a sieve

Microplastics in a petri dish

According to research, an estimated 33 billion pounds of plastic trash enter the oceans each year, and this plastic eventually breaks down into microplastics. There are an estimated 170 trillion pieces of plastic in the ocean. #WetTribe #TidetotheOcean #MicroplasticMonday #Microplastics #Microfibers

Collecting cigarette buttsat the beach

Microplastics in metal screen

Microplastics close-up

Microplastics, particles less than 5mm, constitute a growing pollution problem within coastal environments. All coastal sediment samples tested contained microplastics, approx. 600–2200 particles per kg of dry sediment. #WetTribe #TidetotheOcean #MicroplasticMonday #CoastalCleanup #Research

Microplastics are plastic fragments, foam, and fibers, less than 5mm, ranging from industrial plastic pellets, microbeads, broken fragments of larger plastic debris, and fibers from synthetic clothing, tires, and cigarette filters. #WetTribe #TidetotheOcean #MicroplasticMonday #Microplastics

Although the terms are often used interchangeably, they refer to distinct classifications of plastic pollution, each with its own characteristics and potential consequences. #WetTribe #TidetotheOcean #MicroplasticMonday #Microplastics #Nanoplastics

Sewage sludge is behind microplastic pollution according to a new study which revealed an increase of up to 1,450% in the level of microplastics, including those from textile fibers, after just four years of sewage sludge application. #MicroplasticMonday

Seabirds can also become entangled with consumer products like single-use plastic bags and fishing lines. Some birds may also use marine debris to construct their nests, further endangering their young. #WetTribe #TidetotheOcean #NationalBirdDay #MicroplasticMonday

Seabirds can ingest microplastics by mistaking them for food or through the prey they eat. Scientists estimate that 90% of seabirds have ingested plastic. #WetTribe #TidetotheOcean #NationalBirdDay #MicroplasticMonday

Yesterday was National Bird Day, so for this Microplastic Monday post, we want to raise awareness of plastic’s impact on birds, especially seabirds. #WetTribe #TidetotheOcean #NationalBirdDay #MicroplasticMonday

An estimated 12 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, gradually breaking into smaller and smaller fragments. There are as many as 358 trillion microplastics floating on the surface of the world’s oceans. #WetTribe #TidetotheOcean #MicroplasticMonday

Microplastics 101: #Microplastics are plastics less than 5mm. #PrimaryMicroplastics are manufactured microbeads, #microfibers, pellets or nurdles. #SecondaryMicroplastics are the result of larger pieces of #plastic fragmenting in the environment. #WetTribe #TidetotheOcean #MicroplasticMonday

In addition to plastic fragments from ocean debris, microplastics are also in the form of threads from fishing nets and synthetic clothing. When buying new textiles, make sure they do not contain synthetic fibers. #WetTribe #TidetotheOcean #MicroplasticMonday #PlasticMicrofibers