A staggering amount of litter now pollutes the world's oceans, from shorelines to the seafloor. The litter types most commonly found depend greatly on the aquatic environment. Globally, plastic bags account for roughly 16 percent of litter found at the shoreline, and almost of quarter of all litter found in nearshore waters. Synthetic ropes are the most found form of litter in open waters, while plastic bottles account for some 23 percent of litter found on the deep seafloor.
Waterway litter is a major environmental issue worldwide and is responsible for causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands of marine animals every year.
Distribution of litter types found in oceans worldwide as of 2021, by environment
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The Guardian. (July 25, 2022). Distribution of litter types found in oceans worldwide as of 2021, by environment [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 21, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1337754/litter-types-found-in-aquatic-environments-worldwide/
The Guardian. "Distribution of litter types found in oceans worldwide as of 2021, by environment." Chart. July 25, 2022. Statista. Accessed December 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1337754/litter-types-found-in-aquatic-environments-worldwide/
The Guardian. (2022). Distribution of litter types found in oceans worldwide as of 2021, by environment. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1337754/litter-types-found-in-aquatic-environments-worldwide/
The Guardian. "Distribution of Litter Types Found in Oceans Worldwide as of 2021, by Environment." Statista, Statista Inc., 25 Jul 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1337754/litter-types-found-in-aquatic-environments-worldwide/
The Guardian, Distribution of litter types found in oceans worldwide as of 2021, by environment Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1337754/litter-types-found-in-aquatic-environments-worldwide/ (last visited December 21, 2024)
Distribution of litter types found in oceans worldwide as of 2021, by environment [Graph], The Guardian, July 25, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1337754/litter-types-found-in-aquatic-environments-worldwide/
