研究人员发现海底微塑料含量达有史以来最高值
Record levels of microplastics discovered on the ocean seabed
A simulation of the deep ocean.
这是一个深海模拟试验。
This experiment, in a large tank in a lab in the Netherlands,
这项在荷兰一个实验室内的大型水槽中进行的试验
shows how ocean currents push mounds of sediment across the seafloor.
展示了洋流推动海底成堆沉积物流动的过程。
Mixed into those mounds are millions of tiny pieces of plastic,
沉积物中混杂着数百万的微型塑料碎片，
and scientists have now measured the extent of this seabed pollution.
科学家们现已测量了这片海底的污染程度。
We are all aware of all of the plastic that is floating in the ocean,
我们都知道海面上漂浮着大量的塑料，
but it only represents one per cent of the whole amount.
但这只占了总量的百分之一。
The rest is somewhere in the deep sea.
其余的在深海的某个地方。
We found in this area the highest accumulations ever reported in the global oceans
我们在这片区域内发现的塑料碎片堆积物是有记录以来全球海洋中浓度最高的
and there are 1.9 million particles, pieces, small pieces per square metre.
每平方米含有190万颗微粒和微型碎片。
Studies in 2018 by some of the same researchers revealed
该实验的部分研究人员在2018年开展的研究揭示了
just how much plastic pollution was locked in UK riverbeds then flushed out to sea during floods.
有多少塑料污染物滞留在英国的河床中，然后在洪水期间被冲入大海。
These latest experiments, in the Mediterranean,
这些最新的实验在地中海进行，
extracted whole chunks of seafloor from depths of up to a kilometre.
科学家们从深达一公里的海底挖出了整块的海床。
That enabled scientists to track how the currents carry plastic waste out to sea,
这使他们能够追踪洋流是怎样将塑料垃圾带到海洋中的，
where it breaks down.
塑料垃圾在海洋中会分解成小碎片。
The deep currents then accumulate these millions of fragments into what researchers call microplastic hotspots.
这些深海洋流接着将数百万个碎片聚积到研究者们所称的 “微塑料热点地区”。
The majority of the particles they found were tiny fibres from textiles and clothing that simply slip
研究人员们发现的大多数颗粒物来自纺织品和服装的微小纤维，
through the filtration systems in waste water treatment plants.
它们很容易从废水处理厂的过滤系统中流出来。
We're filling in part of the gaps in our understanding of this missing 99 percent of plastic.
我们在一定程度上填补了对下落不明的 99%的塑料认识上的空白。
There are fragile ecosystems on the seafloor which depend on the nutrients and oxygen which are being flushed by these ocean currents.
海底有脆弱的生态系统，这些生态系统依赖于被这些洋流冲走的营养物质和氧气。
These currents are transporting microplastics to the same places that these fragile ecosystems exist.
洋流正在把微塑料输送到这些脆弱生态系统存在的地方。
Scientists from the British Antarctic Survey, in another study published this week,
英国南极调查局的科学家在本周发表的另一项研究中透露，
revealed that plastic pollution was reaching the shores of some of the most remote islands.
塑料污染已经蔓延到一些最偏远的岛屿。
In recent years we have finally started to see the impact that our plastic waste has on the oceans.
近年来，我们终于开始看到塑料垃圾对海洋环境的影响。
This research has started to uncover the invisible, long-term consequences.
这项研究已开始揭示那些肉眼看不见的、长期的后果。