|
|
Article: Don't dump, drains of ocean!!!!! Why would anyone want to eat plastic? It happens typically not to humans, but instead to marine animals--and it happens often.
- Article from:
- Coast Guard Magazine
- Article date:
- June 1, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 U.S. Coast Guard. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Consider the graceful movement of a plastic bag lightly drifting in the ocean current with just a sliver of light illuminating it from above. It's easy to understand how a sea turtle, who prefers to gulp down jelly fish, might mistake the bag for food.
Numerous fish species, marine mammals and birds also confuse floating garbage with food. Once accidentally consumed, trash can wreak havoc inside the animals resulting in suffocation, gastric blockage and a slow and eventual death.
It's not only the bite-size pieces that are an issue. Current research indicates the global concentration of plastics and other garbage found in the vast oceans and on beaches ...