Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

hatrack

(61,012 posts)
Fri Nov 8, 2024, 05:46 AM Nov 8

Plastic Impact Far Worse Than Thought - Ocean Acidification, Reproductive Failure, Water Pollution All Part Of The MIx

EDIT

In 2022 at least 506m tonnes of plastics were produced worldwide, but only 9% gets recycled globally. The rest is burned, landfilled or dumped where it can leach into the environment. Microplastics are now everywhere, from the top of Mount Everest to the Mariana Trench, the deepest point on earth.

The new study of plastic pollution examined the mounting evidence of the effects of plastics on the environment, health and human wellbeing. The authors are urging delegates at the UN talks to stop viewing plastic pollution as merely a waste problem, and instead to tackle material flows through the whole life pathway of plastic, from raw material extraction, production and use, to its environmental release and its fate, and the Earth system effects.

“It’s necessary to consider the full life cycle of plastics, starting from the extraction of fossil fuel and the primary plastic polymer production” said the article’s lead author, Patricia Villarrubia-Gómez, at Stockholm Resilience Centre. The research team showed that plastics pollution was changing the processes of the entire Earth system, and affected all pressing global environmental problems, including climate change, biodiversity loss, ocean acidification, and the use of freshwater and land.

“Plastics are seen as those inert products that protect our favourite products, or that make our lives easier that can be “easily cleaned-up” once they become waste,” Villarrubia-Gómez said. “But this is far from reality. Plastics are made out of the combination of thousands of chemicals. Many of them, such as endocrine disruptors and forever chemicals, pose toxicity and harm to ecosystems and human health. We should see plastics as the combination of these chemicals with which we interact on a daily basis.”

EDIT

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/07/plastic-pollution-is-changing-entire-earth-system-scientists-find

4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Plastic Impact Far Worse Than Thought - Ocean Acidification, Reproductive Failure, Water Pollution All Part Of The MIx (Original Post) hatrack Nov 8 OP
"Smart" enough to invent the Faux pas Nov 8 #1
Good point about microplastics. GreenWave Nov 8 #2
Sadly... 2naSalit Nov 8 #3
Do not involve the US Government johnnyfins Nov 8 #4

Faux pas

(15,386 posts)
1. "Smart" enough to invent the
Fri Nov 8, 2024, 05:52 AM
Nov 8

shit but not smart enough to figure out how to make it non toxic and safe for living things. Greed is the deadliest sin

johnnyfins

(1,421 posts)
4. Do not involve the US Government
Fri Nov 8, 2024, 08:40 AM
Nov 8

in any possible solution. As of Tuesday, the environment is now a commodity and will, in short order, become a toxic toilet.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Environment & Energy»Plastic Impact Far Worse ...