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Toxic nanoplastics have been discovered on both tips of the globe for the first time, scientists revealed.
Researchers from the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands found the harmful plastics — including tyre particles — have been polluting Greenland for as long as 50 years.
And they also found the particles in as remote a region as Antartica, suggesting they are a 'bigger pollution problem than we thought'.
Nanoplastics are smaller and more poisonous than microplastics, which have been found all over the world. Their full impact of both on human health is not yet known.
Experts fear they could pose a major problem to humans and other animals, with the amount of plastic in the ocean expected to triple by 2040.
The Environmental Investigation Agency earlier this week announced the world's plastic pollution threat constitutes a 'planetary emergency' equal to climate change.
Toxic nanoplastics have been discovered on both tips of the globe for the first time, scientists revealed. Graphic shows: The proportion of types of nanoplastics found in Greenland (top) and Antartica (bottom). The most prominent plastic found was polyethylene (PE), which is used in plastic shopping bags, bottles and packaging film. They also found dust worn from tyres (Tire) — thought to be one of the biggest causes of ocean plastic pollution — made up a quarter of the plastics in Greenland. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) — used in used in drinks bottles and clothing — made up a fifth of the pollution in Greenland
Researchers from the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands found the harmful plastics — including tyre particles — have been polluting Greenland (pictured) for as long as 50 years
