On August 14th of this year, German scientists discovered microscopic plastic particles existing in the snow and air of the Arctic - one of the most remote places on the planet. Their discoveries concluded that microplastics have the ability to travel through the atmosphere from extremely developed countries like the US and China, that mass produce many plastic products. Microplastics are also detected in the ocean as well from an influx in pollution over the past 60 years(see graph).
These scientists additonally took samples from the european alps and found microplastics in the snow that was once pure. Microplastics were also found in France, Iran, and China in this study. "While we did expect to find microplastics, the enormous concentrations surprised us," said Melanie Bergmann, a researcher at the Alfred-Wegener-Institute in Bremerhaven, Germany. These researchers have demonstrated how urgent this issue really is to the planet.
Plastic is a man made material that is not biodegradable, at least for a few million years. Humans use plastic for a multitude of things(see some examples). When it is broken apart into particles that are less that 1/4 inch, there becomes a huge risk to the environment. Plastic is produced from potroleum which contributes to the reasoning behond it's inability to decay(see more about chemical makeup of plastic). Through this discovery, the issue of overproduction of plastic has intensified and raised more concern. Additonal to exploiting our fossil fuels, breathing this air just like sea creatures live in microplastics becomes relevant as well.
This issue is devastatingly irriversable, but it is preventable. But only if there is enough motivation in people. Do you think it is possible to prevent this issue or do you think countries like the US have done too much harm and it is too late? What are the steps we as humans need to take in order to prevent plastic usage globally? If it is too late, what do you predict for the future of the environment? What does this study tell us about the influence humans have on the environment?
I agree that the motivation in everyone around the world needs to increase and that there is hope if we all try to make an effort. I think some steps that humans can take is reducing single-use plastic and making laws to ban things that are bad for the environment. I know California has done a really good job passing legislature to restrict environmental-issue contributors, and the rest of the world should follow in their footsteps.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Phoebe. Nice collection of facts, images, and a good "hook" for your title.
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