A new scientific paper warns the Earth’s oceans are even more contaminated with microplastic pollution than previously known. The study, whose findings appear in Thursday’s edition of Nature Scientific Reports, sampled vertical columns of water off California extending to the deep ocean floor. The findings revealed tiny pieces of plastic waste at every depth—with higher concentrations far below the surface. The study also found high levels of microplastic pollution in the bodies of crabs, fish and microscopic ocean animals. The findings counter the widespread belief that most plastic waste is found floating at the surface and near coastlines.