Plastics found in stomachs of deepest sea creatures
by Matthew Taylor/The Guardian on 16 Nov 2017
This microscopic arrow worm has eaten a blue plastic fibre that is blocking the passage of food along its gut Richard Kirby / Courtesy of Orb Media
Editor's Note:
Alarmingly, the dreaded plastic contagion has reached almost 11,000m below sea level. Seeing as every bit of plastic that has ever been made is still with us, it may not be surprising, but it certainly is concerning, for it means it is now throughout the entire food chain. Seeing it on the islands of the Pacific is one thing, but to know it is that far down in the deepest trenches of our planet is shocking.
Animals from the deepest places on Earth have been found with plastic in their stomachs, confirming fears that manmade fibres have contaminated the most remote places on the planet. The study, led by academics at Newcastle University, found animals from trenches across the Pacific Ocean were contaminated with fibres that probably originated from plastic bottles, packaging and synthetic clothes.
Dr Alan Jamieson, who led the study, said the findings were startling and proved that nowhere on the planet was free from plastics pollution. “There is now no doubt that plastics pollution is so pervasive that nowhere – no matter how remote – is immune,” he said.
Evidence of the scale of plastic pollution has been growing in recent months. Earlier this year scientists found plastic in 83% of global tapwater samples, while other studies have found plastic in rock salt and fish. Humans have produced an estimated 8.3bn tonnes of plastic since the 1950s and scientists said it risked near permanent contamination of the planet.
Jamieson said underlined the need for swift and meaningful action.
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