Plastic Pollution Hotspots Threaten Ocean Life
Plastic waste in our oceans isn’t just about floating garbage patches—it’s about hidden risks where plastics and marine life collide.
Scientists at Tulane University have created the first global map of where plastics pose the greatest ecological dangers. They found that even areas with modest amounts of plastic can be high risk if they overlap with dense marine ecosystems or toxic pollutants.
Plastics harm ocean life in four major ways: animals swallow it, get trapped in it, carry pollutants on it, or absorb toxic chemicals as it breaks down. These threats are most severe in regions like the North Pacific, North Atlantic, coastal East Asia, and busy fishing zones where abandoned nets—so-called “ghost gear”—are common.
Looking ahead, the study warns that without stronger global action, ingestion risks could triple by 2060. But with coordinated efforts to reduce waste, we can protect vulnerable ecosystems and the people who depend on them.
Credit to : CNBCT