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Lego bricks in the ocean could take 1,300 years to degrade
Blocks washed up after decades show little sign of disintegration
A Lego brick could survive in the ocean for as many as 1,300 years, according to a new study.
Researchers at the University of Plymouth analyzed bricks that had washed up on the coastlines of southwest England. They confirmed the ages of individual pieces and weighed them, then compared the result with that of equivalent unused pieces.
The study, published in the journal Environmental Pollution, estimated that the bricks could endure for between 100 and 1,300 years. “It is specifically designed to be played with and handled, so it may not be especially surprising that despite potentially being in the sea for decades, it isn't significantly worn down.
“However, the full extent of its durability was even a surprise to us.
“The pieces we tested had smoothed and discolored, with some of the structures having fractured and fragmented, suggesting that as well as pieces remaining intact, they might also break down into microplastics.
Read the full article at the Independent
Photo Credit: AFP/Getty
