Health News Week #7
Trash Islands are still taking over the Oceans at an Alarming Rate
More than 90% of all plastic is not being recycled and trash is now becoming islands and taking over our ocean systems. These islands are becoming more and more common, there was an estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic entering our oceans every year and is expected to increase to 380 metrics by the year 2025. I was astonished to find how much garbage is in our ocean, an average bottle of soda could take up to 450 years to completely decompose! Our animals are also being affected by this and we are finding more and more debris in the stomach each year. Large patches in Honduras and off the South Pacific have been found, recycling awareness is necessary to help reduce the 91% of plastic that is not being recycled now.
It is so sad how much garbage we produce, how much isn't recycled when it could be, and how much ends up in our oceans. Many different types of species are dying because they ingest the plastic and it gets caught in their system. Then they are not hungry for food since their stomachs are full but they are not receiving any nutrients. It is now estimated that there is more garbage (specifically plastic) in the ocean than marine life. The worst part is that plastic never decomposes. It will be in the ocean forever unless we remove it.
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