Did you guys know this even existed? I only heard of it yesterday!!!!
The Pacific Trash Vortex, is a gyre
of marine litter
in the central North Pacific Ocean located roughly between San Francisco and Hawaii. The Patch is
characterized by exceptionally high concentrations of pelagic
plastics,
chemical
sludge, and other debris that have been trapped by the currents of the North Pacific Gyre.
The exact size of the patch is unknown, as
large items readily visible from a boat deck are uncommon. Most debris consists
of small plastic particles suspended at or just below the surface, making it
impossible to detect by aircraft or satellite.
According to sampling it's roughly twice the size of Texas and is 80 percent
plastic, and weighs in at 3.5 million tons!!!
Some of these long-lasting plastics end up
in the stomachs of marine birds and animals, and their young. Besides the
particles' danger to wildlife, the floating debris can absorb organic
pollutants from seawater. Aside from toxic effects, when ingested, some of
these are cause hormone disruption in the affected animal. These
toxin-containing plastic pieces are also eaten by jellyfish, which are then
eaten by larger fish. Many of these fish are then consumed by humans, resulting
in their ingestion of toxic chemicals.
No country with a seat on the United
Nations has claimed any responsibility for the patch, and therefore have not
taken action to clean it up.
"If we claim to be without sin, we
deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us."
Some
people claim the patch doesn’t exist at all- a legend
like sea monsters of old. But I think it does and I think it’s DISGRACEFUL.
No comments:
Post a Comment