Microplastics have been found in sedimentary layers dating back to the early 1700s, “demonstrating the harmful ability of microplastics to penetrate environments even untouched by modern humans,” Futurism reports. From the report: A team of European researchers made this surprising discovery after studying the sediment layers of three Latvian lakes, as detailed in a study published in the journal Science Advances. Scientists were studying lake sediments to test whether the presence of microplastics in geological formations could be a reliable indicator of the beginning of the Anthropocene. The study defined the beginning of the Anthropocene as 1950, and was intended to depict the period when humans began to have a major impact on humanity. environment.
Scientists have long used layers of ash and ice to study past events on Earth, but their findings have led to questions about whether microplastics serve as reliable age markers for the Anthropocene. A question arose. Apparently not, according to this new study, which found microplastics in every layer of sediment they dredged, including one from 1733. “We conclude that the interpretation of the distribution of microplastics in the studied sediment profiles is ambiguous and does not strictly indicate the beginning of large-scale sedimentation.”The Anthropocene Era,” the scientists said. We are writing.