Lego bricks could survive in sea ‘for 1,300 years’
A LEGO brick could survive in the ocean for as many as 1,300 years, a study claims.
Researchers at the University of Plymouth analysed the plastic toys that had washed up on the coastlines of south-west England.
They confirmed the ages of individual pieces and weighed them, then compared them with equivalent unused pieces.
The study, published in the journal Environmental Pollution, estimated that the bricks could endure for between 100 and 1,300 years.
Dr Andrew Turner, associate
Claire Hayhurst
professor in environmental sciences, said: “Lego is one of the most popular children’s toys in history and part of its appeal has been its durability.
“It is 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 discoloured, with some of the structures having fractured and fragmented, suggesting that as well as pieces remaining intact, they might also break into microplastics. “It once again emphasises the importance of people disposing of used items properly to ensure they do not pose potential problems for the environment.”
Over the past decade, voluntary organisations from Cornwall, including Rame Peninsula Beach Care and the Lego Lost at Sea Project, have retrieved thousands of pieces of the toy and other plastic during regular beach cleans.
The study used 50 pieces of weathered Lego, constructed from a plastic compound known as ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene).