Fig. 4
From: Evaluating the environmental impact of cleaning the North Pacific Garbage Patch
Predicted environmental concentrations (PEC) of (a) macroplastics (> 5 mm) and (b) microplastics (1µm–5 mm) in the North Pacific Garbage Patch based on low (1%/year; solid vertical lines) and high (3%/year, dashed vertical lines) macroplastic degradation rates. For 2040, results are presented for a business-as-usual scenario (BAU), as well as for scenarios with 50%, 70%, 80%, and 90% macroplastic cleanup. (a) Blue shaded area represents the range of predicted no effect concentrations (PNEC) for macroplastic entanglement (marine mammals, sea turtles, and seabirds)24. (b) Horizontal lines represent proposed microplastic toxicity thresholds for food dilution (particle size range: 1 µm–5 mm)60.
