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7 Scientific Studies and Research in Marine LitterVarious scientific analysis and researches have been undertaken in different areas, studyingseveral items such as small plastic fragments found in seabirds’ stomachs (e.g. fulmar) or theingestion and accumulation of microscopic plastic by marine organisms.Studies into the impact on microscopic plastic particles on the marine environment are at theforefront of recent research into marine litter. Global plastic production is now estimated at 225million tons per year (Plastic-Europe 2006). Plastic debris is accumulating in terrestrial and aquatichabitats worldwide and it is progressively fragmenting into small pieces and as it does so thepotential for ingestion by animals increases. The biological consequences of macroscopic plastic(≥ 5mm) debris on wildlife have been better documented than those of microscopic plastics andinclude suffocation, entanglement and starvation. By contrast, the impacts of microscopic (