Plastic in the oceans: one truckload of it is dumped every minute

PLASTIC IN THE OCEANS

Scientists confirm what the “Don't Waste” community has been saying for a long time: plastic bags It is advancing in the world's seas at a scandalous rate. And despite many calls to reduce its use and abuse, some experts have demonstrated irrefutably that since 2000 i waste a basis of plastic bags inAtlantic Ocean are tripledA huge waste of quality of life and well-being for all.

Thanks to the data collected by means of the "continuous plankton recorders (RCP)”, installed in tow of large ships that have crossed the oceans from 2000 to today, a group of researchers from Plymouth (UK) has verified how large plastic objects have become entangled approximately three times more often than in previous decades. And this is only as regards the macro-plastics (large plastic objects). The situation of the microplastics (from small objects to “pulverized” elements) is, unfortunately, even worse.

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MICROPLASTICS IN THE OCEANS

OCEANS OF GARBAGE

Larger quantities of plastic have been found in the areas of the ocean most frequented by shipping routes. For example, the number of fish nets found in the North Atlantic and in North SeaThe latter is richly populated by marine fauna, such as fish, birds and cetaceans that risk daily getting entangled in plastic waste or mistaking it for food. It has been demonstrated, for example, that the turtles They are unable to distinguish between plastic bags and jellyfish (essential to their diet). A real trap for one of the creatures universally loved by adults and children alike. Plastic bags, once ingested, cause lethal internal blockages. And there is another worrying and little-known phenomenon: micro-pollution present in the meat of the fish that we eat. The effects on human health are yet to be fully ascertained.

PLASTIC ISLANDS IN THE OCEANS

The oceans also host, within them, five “natural collection points”, called major vortices, where thousands of tons of plastic are deposited and sink; two vortices are located in the Atlantic Ocean, two in the Pacific, and one in the Indian Ocean. The vortices accumulate objects of all kinds: envelopes, bottles, packagingThe North Pacific Gyre alone contains six kilos of plastic for every kilo of plankton. A tragedy for our ecosystems.

Plastic is the material that has dominated modernity for several decades; just think of the bottles produced by some of the most famous multinational soft drink companies and the packaging commonly used. According to some estimates, in 2016 alone, 480 billion di plastic bottles, a fact that cannot go unnoticed. This is why, in many parts of the world, efforts are being made to address this issue, for example by ensuring that drinking water distribution points encourage the reuse of glass containers.

TO KNOW MORE: Overrun by plastic, 670 pieces of waste per 100 linear meters of coastline (Photo)

PLASTIC PRODUCTION ON THE RISE

PLASTIC IN THE OCEANS: OCEAN CLEANUP

THE STORIES OF THOSE WHO ARE COMMITTED TO SAVING OUR SEAS:

• Retired Ulisse on the beach in Sardinia: he blocks uncivilized people and collects waste (photos and video)
• Cigarettes on the beach, this is how Paola collects thousands of butts every day. Let's do the same!
• A Sicilian pensioner's wonderful initiative to rid the beach of cigarette butts.