Plastic debris reaches Southern Ocean, previously thought to be pristine

Posted on October 6, 2012 by DrRossH in Plastic & Wildlife

Plastic debris reaches Southern Ocean, previously thought to be pristine | Environment | guardian.co.uk.

The fatal impact of plastic pollutants on the marine environment has been widely observed, as birds and fish regularly consume waste products, which can be easily mistaken for jellyfish or other prey but cannot be degraded in the stomach. Plastics also slowly release toxins and other chemical substances that work their way up the marine food chain.

“It’s too late to do much about what’s already out there at this stage, as this stuff is going to hang around for thousands of years,” said Bowler. However, he says the best way to mitigate future pollution is to advocate the use of biodegradable technologies while emphasising a shift in consumer practices.