We consume plastic thrown away as waste
The chemical Bisphenol A (BPA), which is mainly found in plastic products and adversely affects hormonal systems, is detectable in 90 percent of teenagers’ bodies, according to a recent study carried out by Exeter University in the U.K.
Some people’s bodies contain plastic because we consume plastic that has been dumped in the sea. That is why it is high time we conduct more detailed research into seas and oceans.
The Volvo Ocean Race, a “round the world” yacht race that has been held since 1973, started last year in Alicante on Oct. 22, and the boats are currently on their way to Auckland.
This year’s race will be the longest as teams cover a distance of 45,000 miles, passing four oceans.
The race will also investigate marine pollution.
The boats have been equipped with sensors that collect data from the seas, including temperature, barometric pressure, currents and wind speed. This data will help scientists in the fields of meteorology and climate modelling at the global level.
The sensors on the boats also measure the amount of salt, dissolved carbon dioxide and algae in the seawater.
When this data is combined with other data about micro plastics, an image of the impact of plastic pollution on ocean life should become clearer.
At least 300 million tons of plastic are produced per year around the world, and this production will double in the next 20 years.
It takes 20 years for a plastic bag to decompose and 450 years for a plastic bottle.
Meanwhile, eight million tons of plastic waste is dumped into the oceans every year!
Pollution has doubled over the past 10 years even in the Arctic Ocean in the North Pole.
Furthermore, reports emerge indicating waste even in The Mariana Trench, which is the deepest part of the world’s oceans.
It is not only about sea animals dying or getting injured because of plastic waste. We should also pay attention to plastic pieces smaller than 5 mm. These pieces can enter the food chain through small organisms called plankton, which eat the plastic waste, and can eventually reach human beings.
According to the Volvo Ocean Race data, shared in the Hong Kong Ocean Summit, some micro plastic pieces have been detected in the oceans close to Antarctica.
In short, our oceans and seas are crying for help as plastic pollution captures the whole world.
If we ignore this call, we will continue to damage ourselves.
