http://www.cbc.ca/quirks/2014/05/31/2014-05-31-1/

Microplastics on Ice

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Significant amounts of tiny fragments of plastic have been discovered in
Arctic ice.

Researchers have discovered that Arctic sea ice is contaminated with
tiny fragments of plastic. Tiny fragments of plastic from run-off,
dumped garbage and fishing gear - known as microplastic - has been found
in many of the world's oceans and coastlines, and there is concern that
it may be having impact on sea life. Dr. Rachel Obbard, an assistant
professor in the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College in
New Hampshire, was studying sea-ice cores when she was surprised to find
a high concentration of plastic in the ice. Sea ice naturally takes up
particles from the water as it forms, and Dr. Obbard thinks that the sea
ice is acting as a sponge, collecting plastic that enters the Arctic
Ocean from the Atlantic and Pacific. As multi-year sea-ice disappears,
this reservoir of frozen plastic is likely to be released back into the
Arctic Ocean.

http://cbc.ca/quirks/media/2013-2014/qq-2014-05-31_01.mp3