National Geographic
Where has all the (Sea Trash) Plastic gone?
Laura Parker
June 13, 2014
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/06/140613-ocean-trash-garbage-patch-plastic-science-kerry-marine-debris/
As it is commonly know that most of the used plastic ends in the oceans, giant garbage patches are formed floating in so called convergence zones. Through the oceans current the plastic particles are being transported to areas in the Pacific forming the; Western Garbage Patch, and the Eastern Patch.
The problems with these garbage patches is that they are not directly noticeable as the plastic degrades into micro particles floating under the water surface, these are then eaten by fish which mistake them for food and digested, Through fish eating these plastic particles they often become either infertile or have other health impacts.
When Spanish scientist Andres Cozar Cabanas created the first ever global map of ocean trash, he discovered that other than expected most of the plastic which should have floated near the surface was infact not there. Through increased plastic production it had been exprcted that there would also be more plastic present in the ocean. A recent study though published claims that the plastic broke down even further and now is embedded in the ocean floors sediments. Through this our foodchain is even more in danger as it already has been recorded that mammals and fish eat plastic particles. Every sqaure kilometer of deep ocean contains 4 billion plastic fibers, with the width of a human hair and a proximatly a lenght of 4cm. Further studies conducted showed that microfibres in the indian ocean settle mostly on corals, causing damage as light is blocked.
Generally this new research shows how much humans dont understand in the end what happens with out garbage. The overall health risks are still not fully understood, making plastic a potential threat as it enters our food chain. Overall the way plastic is disposed has to be rethinked, as to prevent it from entering out food chains and our oceans. Stopping the usage of plastic bags, or reducing is a good start as these cheap plastics especially enter our food chains easily as they break down the fastest.
Where has all the (Sea Trash) Plastic gone?
Laura Parker
June 13, 2014
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/06/140613-ocean-trash-garbage-patch-plastic-science-kerry-marine-debris/
As it is commonly know that most of the used plastic ends in the oceans, giant garbage patches are formed floating in so called convergence zones. Through the oceans current the plastic particles are being transported to areas in the Pacific forming the; Western Garbage Patch, and the Eastern Patch.
The problems with these garbage patches is that they are not directly noticeable as the plastic degrades into micro particles floating under the water surface, these are then eaten by fish which mistake them for food and digested, Through fish eating these plastic particles they often become either infertile or have other health impacts.
When Spanish scientist Andres Cozar Cabanas created the first ever global map of ocean trash, he discovered that other than expected most of the plastic which should have floated near the surface was infact not there. Through increased plastic production it had been exprcted that there would also be more plastic present in the ocean. A recent study though published claims that the plastic broke down even further and now is embedded in the ocean floors sediments. Through this our foodchain is even more in danger as it already has been recorded that mammals and fish eat plastic particles. Every sqaure kilometer of deep ocean contains 4 billion plastic fibers, with the width of a human hair and a proximatly a lenght of 4cm. Further studies conducted showed that microfibres in the indian ocean settle mostly on corals, causing damage as light is blocked.
Generally this new research shows how much humans dont understand in the end what happens with out garbage. The overall health risks are still not fully understood, making plastic a potential threat as it enters our food chain. Overall the way plastic is disposed has to be rethinked, as to prevent it from entering out food chains and our oceans. Stopping the usage of plastic bags, or reducing is a good start as these cheap plastics especially enter our food chains easily as they break down the fastest.
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