Plastic Lasts and Lasts and Lasts
Most of our plastic products are designed to last, and last they do. It can take hundreds or even thousands of years for plastic containers to decompose. In fact, according to Green Feet, nearly every piece of plastic ever made is still in existence today.
Among all of that plastic, one of the least commonly recycled items are the caps used to seal plastic containers. Often we are told to recycle the bottle and throw the cap into the trash.
Among all of that plastic, one of the least commonly recycled items are the caps used to seal plastic containers. Often we are told to recycle the bottle and throw the cap into the trash.
http://news.distractify.com/culture/27-powerful-photos-that-will-make-you-want-to-swear-off-plastic-forever/?v=1
Plastic constitutes approximately 90 percent of all trash floating on the ocean’s surface, with 46,000 pieces of plastic per square mile.
This floating plastic breaks down into smaller and smaller segments.
New Rock Discovered Made Up of Plastic
All this microscopic plastic debris has given birth to a new type of rock: Plastiglomerate. The rock is the result of melted
plastic trash on beaches mixing with sediment, basaltic lava fragments
and organic debris, such as shells.
Nearly half of the plastic that could be identified in plastiglomerates was "confetti," or tiny bits of broken, decomposing plastic. Nearly a quarter came from broken lid containers! Fishing related debris was found in 20 percent of the samples.
Pollution forms a new kind of rock, "plastiglomerate": http://www.cbsnews.com/news/pollution-forms-a-new-kind-of-rock-plastiglomerate-in-hawaii/
Nearly half of the plastic that could be identified in plastiglomerates was "confetti," or tiny bits of broken, decomposing plastic. Nearly a quarter came from broken lid containers! Fishing related debris was found in 20 percent of the samples.
Pollution forms a new kind of rock, "plastiglomerate": http://www.cbsnews.com/news/pollution-forms-a-new-kind-of-rock-plastiglomerate-in-hawaii/
Characteristics of the two types of plastiglomerate. (A) In situ plastiglomerate wherein molten plastic is adhered to the surface of a basalt flow. Field book is 18 cm long. (B) Clastic plastiglomerate containing molten plastic and basalt and coral fragments. (C) Plastic amygdales in a basalt flow. (D) Large in situ plastiglomerate fragment. Adhered molten plastic was found 15 cm below the surface. GSA TODAY (Geological Society of America journal)
Microplastic Fragments of Plastic in All Parts of the Food Chain
In 2004 English scientists reported on tiny, even microscopic plastic fragments that have worked their way down and are polluting deep ocean sediments and are now in the plankton, the very bottom of the food chain. (Richard Thompson, Science magazine).
Algalita Marine Research Foundation Algalita Marine Research Foundation found some areas of the Pacific Ocean to have 6 times as much plastic debris as zooplankton. http://www.algalita.org
Algalita Marine Research Foundation Algalita Marine Research Foundation found some areas of the Pacific Ocean to have 6 times as much plastic debris as zooplankton. http://www.algalita.org