Spatiotemporal Dynamics, Seasonal Aggregation, and Policy Interventions of Marine Microplastics

items, which represents an update to previous estimates. Microplastic concentrations significantly increased in 72.59% of global marine areas, with an annual growth rate of 4.53%. Ocean dynamics under thermohaline regulation facilitates microplastic transport and seasonal accumulation, a process that may be intensified by climate warming. Total microplastic loads in the Northern Hemisphere are 18.31% (95% confidence interval: 13.75%-27.57%) greater during summer than in winter, highlighting seasonal exposure variations for marine ecosystems. Notably, targeted policy interventions resulted in an 82.54% reduction in potential loading in the Baltic Sea. The unique spatiotemporal dynamics of marine microplastics revealed in this study provide key insights for microplastic risk assessment and control.