Hey Gary, thanks for checking in and your comment. At the end of the day, it is near impossible to find a single size and density for the NPGD. I chose a large estimate to further emphasize the seriousness and scope of the problem. Due to the current structures in the North Pacific Gyre, plastic density will be highest at the center and then decrease as one proceeds to the circumference of the Gyre. An average density figure is likely meaningless for that reason, the NPGD is nonhomogeneous throughout. See Moore’s comments about size in Source #7, and some density calculations for the center of the NPGD in the Wikipedia article – Source #8 . The largest estimate I’ve seen for the size of the NPGD is 2X United States and therefore double the figure quoted in the article (Source #8). The ‘high density’ core of the NPGD, where floating plastic covers the surface of the ocean, might be ‘only’ the size of Texas – Source #9.

Is the problem this serious? You bet it is!. Granted million of individuals, and some towns and cities, have made serious downward adjustments to their plastic footprint. However, world population continues to increase and with it the use of plastic items in most lives. There is no research that I’m aware of that documents a decrease in plastic reaching the Pacific Ocean and ending up in the NPGD. Keep asking for that paper bag when you shop, or better yet – remember that canvas bag you bought last week that is now crumbled up under a pile of books on the back seat of your car.

Here is a source much more reliable: http://www.algalita.org/charles_bio.html

No offense, but this website is a prime example of someone who needs to check their facts. And to readers, remember to check sources before you believe anything you read. It would make the life of a scientist much better. :) and you less confused.

Thanks!
and make a difference: switch to Tap water and keep the plastic consumption to a minimum!

Also, if I have the numbers right, there are about 3,000,000 square miles (the size of the US) in the dump, containing 100,000,000 tons of plastic debris. That works out to roughly 1/3 ounce of plastic debris for every square meter of ocean surface. That is obviously bad, but does sound nearly as bad as a plastic soup. That is especially when you realize it goes to a depth of 30 meters – then it is about 1 ounce in 100 cubic meters of water (or one ounce in 10 cubic meters of water if the dump is actually the size of Texas).

We should still be concerned, and taking action, but it seems much less alarming than the article implies.

Our company just got FDA approval on a bag film that decomposes. We now want “marine” certification as well for this new film.