Supporting The Plastic Pollution Research of Dr Patricia Villarubia-Gómez

Until March 2023, estimates indicated there were 51 billion microplastic particles in the ocean (Eriksen et al., 2014). However, according to the updated study led by Patricia Villarrubia-Gómez, this figure has been alarmingly revised upward: 170 trillion particles are now thought to be circulating in our seas.

Marine life is paying a heavy price: plastic fragments have been found in the stomachs of more than 700 species, including turtles, whales, and seabirds.

But beyond the ecological emergency, this is also a serious health crisis. Once in the environment, plastic waste breaks down into microplastics (less than 5 mm), which are ingested by many marine species. These particles work their way up the food chain through a process called bioaccumulation — eventually ending up on our plates. We are then exposed to toxic substances such as Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, which are linked to cancer, hormonal disorders, and fertility issues.

Thanks to our grant, we support the essential work of Patricia Villarrubia-Gómez, a researcher at the Stockholm Resilience Centre, who studies the socio-ecological impacts of plastic pollution. She participated in negotiations for the very first global plastics treaty at the UN (INC-1, Uruguay, 2022), as well as the second round of negotiations in Paris (INC-2, 2023).

This support is part of the Ocean Born Foundation’s broader commitment: ensuring that science has a voice in shaping this historic treaty — legislation that could profoundly transform our relationship with plastic by mandating its reduction and promoting essential circular solutions.