Difficult to degrade! Chinese scientists found microplastics in Antarctic waters for the first time
The blue microplastic in the center of the filter is seen under a microscope
As a new type of pollutant in the Marine environment, the harm of microplastics is becoming a focus of concern for environmental activists around the world. Recently, scientists from the 34th Antarctic Expedition, which is conducting research in Antarctica, discovered the presence of microplastics in the seawater of the Antarctic Ocean for the first time (blue fiber in the center of the filter membrane in the image). Reflecting the widespread distribution of microplastics, these rare polar seas are also home to them.
Microplastics refers to the size of less than 5 mm plastic debris, at present, plastic is the main component of Marine litter, the world's annual production of more than 300 million tons of plastic, of which about 10% of the plastic will enter the ocean, these plastics are chemically stable, difficult to degrade, will exist in the sea for hundreds of years or more.
Toothpastes with scrub particles often used in our lives, facial cleansers, laundry powders, are direct sources of microplastics in seawater, and may eventually enter the sea. Microplastics will affect Marine life, damage the Marine ecology, and ultimately, threaten human beings. I hope everyone can raise environmental awareness and refuse to let plastics enter the sea. (CCTV reporter Li Jie and Zhang Haipeng)