At a Glance

Researchers find up to 12,000 pieces of microplastic particles per liter of sea ice in core samples.Their findings are three times higher than previous studies.

A record concentration of microplastics has been discovered trapped in the Arctic's sea ice.

Researchers with the Alfred Wegener Institute at Germany's Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research saythey found up to 12,000 pieces of microplastic particles per liter of sea ice in core samples taken from five locations. The concentrations are , according to a press release.

The study published in Nature Communications this week notes that the microplastic particles from packaging, paints, nylon, polyester and cellulose acetateare incredibly small, with .

“That’s roughly one-sixth the diameter of a human hair, and also explains why we found concentrations of more than 12,000 particles per litre of sea ice – which is two to three times higher than what we’d found in past measurements," said researcher Gunnar Gerdts, who added that 67 percent of the particles detected in the ice belonged to the smallest-scale category of “50 micrometers and smaller."

AWI biologist and lead author Dr. Ilka Peeken said the particles collected from core samples collected during three expeditions are small enough to be ingested by Arctic microorganisms, includingciliates and copepods.

“No one can say for certain how harmful these tiny plastic particles are for marine life, or ultimately also for human beings," Peeken said.

In response to a study earlier this year that found bottled water from some of the world's largest brands teeming with microplastics, the World Health Organization associated with ingesting microplastics from water, BBC reported.

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The German researchers determined that some of the microplasticsoriginate from the . These particles are"pushed along the Bering Strait and into the Arctic Ocean by the Pacific inflow.”

On the other hand, paint particles from ships andnylon waste from fishing nets implicate more local pollution sources.

“These findings suggest that both the expanding shipping and fishing activities in the Arctic areleaving their mark. The high microplastic concentrations in the sea ice can thus not only be attributed to sources outside the Arctic Ocean. Instead, they also point to local pollution in the Arctic,” Peeken said.

Plastics have become the hot topic of environmental concerns.The issue prompted the as its theme lastSunday.

A recent study from the World Economic Forum says, which amounts to the equivalent of one garbage truck dumped into the ocean every minute.

While health risks associated with microplastics has yet to be determined, larger pieces of plastic dumped found in and near our oceans poses a threat to bird and marine life.

An estimated 90 percent of seagulls mistake plastic for food and have bits of plastic in their guts.Researchers say if the trendcontinues, 99 percent of seabirds will be affected by 2050, the date scientists predict there will be more plastic in our oceans than fish.