Scientists from the University of Barcelona have surveyed the Calypso Trench, located in the Ionian Sea at a depth of 5,112 meters, and have revealed an alarming picture of environmental pollution. This deep-sea area, located about 60 kilometers from the coast of the Greek Peloponnese, has been seriously polluted with various types of waste, MIR 24 reports with reference to The Independent.
According to the data obtained, the density of garbage reached 26,715 units per square kilometer, which is one of the highest rates ever recorded in deep-sea ecosystems. The vast majority of the waste found – about 90% - are plastic products, although glass, metal and paper items are also present.
Scientists have put forward several hypotheses about the origin of this garbage. Some of the light waste was presumably brought by currents from coastal areas. Some items, such as plastic bags, drift above the seabed for a long time before completely sinking and disintegrating into small fragments. Evidence of direct dumping of entire bags of garbage from passing ships was also found.
Of particular concern is that the Calypso Trench is a closed ecosystem with weak currents, allowing waste to accumulate gradually. The researchers noted that marine life has already begun to interact with the debris, with cases of animals ingesting the waste, using it as a substrate for shelter or laying eggs.
