Even in the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, plastic pollution is not just apparent, but lethal – as detailed by the recent discovery of an alarming plastic problem among the desert ecosystem’s most iconic animal — the camel.
Over the past few years we’ve certainly seen plenty of scientific research that confirms that plastic material, and the toxins attached to them, are entering our bodies. This isn’t a shock, as we also know that micro and nano plastics are now found in literally every corner of our planet … in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat and the soil that we cultivate. So there’s no doubt that it’s there, but what we don’t clearly know yet is the impact that plastic is having on human health.
We believe it can’t possibly be having a positive affect on us, but science will eventually answer that question. For now, let’s have a look at how much plastic we are ingesting over time, via this infographic about humans eating plastic:
Entonces, estudios revelan que los humanos consumimos una cantidad espantosa de plástico, semana tras semana.
¿Estamos sorprendidos?
So – studies reveal – it looks like we humans are consuming a horrifying amount of plastic, week on week.
Are we surprised?
No es ningún secreto que nuestro impacto humano en la Tierra está transformando en gran medida nuestra experiencia compartida y, a menudo, no para bien. Extinción de especies, escasez de agua potable, aire contaminado, sustancias químicas que causan enfermedades, más CO2, cambio climático y… bueno, ya entiendes la idea.
It’s no secret that our human impact on Earth is greatly reshaping our shared experience – and often not for the good. Extinction of species, scarce drinking water, polluted air, disease-causing chemicals, more CO2, climate change, and … well you get the idea.
Sure, we’ve done some great things as well, but it’s hard to look past the damage that we are increasingly responsible for. As our species has “advanced” to the top of the food chain, so too has our appetite for things and the production and infrastructure required to satisfy our need for those things. And it is a BIG need – a hunger that has driven an addiction that recovery might never come from.
As a scientist conducting microplastics research, I am concerned about how plastics can affect human health. In my current research, I’ve developed a methodology to detect plastics in human tissues, which we were excited to complete as quickly as we did given all of the strict lab protocols and restrictions put in place due to COVID. During this pandemic, we have seen a massive spike in single-use plastic items like masks, gloves, shields, etc., all essential for keeping us safe, but worrisome in regards to the impact this will have on the environment.
Other than the obvious desire to end the suffering and death brought on by this pandemic, the waste issue is another reason for me, personally, to be eager for the distribution of a COVID vaccine to end this global pandemic.
However, I was surprised to learn that many people may be hesitant to receive the vaccine.
El lecho marino del océano ha sido durante mucho tiempo un conocido punto caliente de contaminantes humanos, y los científicos aún están aprendiendo la magnitud del daño. Un estudio reciente de la agencia científica nacional de Australia ha revelado una estimación conservadora de 14 millones de toneladas de microplásticos en las profundidades del océano, la primera estimación mundial de este tipo.
The ocean’s seafloor has long been a known hotspot for human pollutants, and scientists are still learning the extent of the damage. A recent study from Australia’s national science agency has revealed a conservative estimate of 14 million tons of microplastics in the deep ocean, the first ever global estimate of its kind.
Hay algo innegablemente majestuoso en el movimiento deliberado de una tortuga. Ya sea que se trate del lento y sereno rastreo de una tortuga o de la tranquila facilidad de una tortuga marina en el agua azul, la presencia de estas criaturas nos sorprende con una especie de antigua familiaridad, cautivando nuestros corazones y mentes.