All articles tagged with #marine pollution
Germany is actively working to recover and safely dispose of approximately 1.6 million tons of WWII-era ammunition scattered across the Baltic Sea seabed, which poses environmental and explosion risks, through a government-funded project involving divers, underwater robots, and plans for automated destruction methods.
Decades after barrels of chemicals, likely alkaline waste rather than DDT, were dumped off Los Angeles, strange halos formed around them due to chemical reactions with seawater, revealing ongoing environmental impacts and the presence of extremophile microbes, prompting a reevaluation of marine pollution risks.
Brazilian sharpnose sharks are ingesting high levels of cocaine due to pollution from human wastewater and runoff, raising concerns about the impact of drug contaminants on marine ecosystems, including potential effects on shark health, food webs, and biodiversity. This phenomenon highlights a broader global issue of pharmaceutical pollution in oceans.
The 2024 British Wildlife Photography Awards showcase stunning images of British wildlife, including surprising finds like barnacles on a football in the Atlantic Sea. The winning photo highlights the enduring beauty of British wildlife while also raising awareness about the potential environmental impact of marine pollution. The competition aims to inspire people, especially youngsters, to protect and preserve the natural spaces and wildlife in the British Isles.
A study has found that compostable plastic, such as polylactic acid (PLA), does not break down in the ocean, remaining unchanged for over a year. The research highlights the need for standardized tests to verify if materials advertised as compostable truly biodegrade in natural environments. The study emphasizes the difference between compostable plastics that require specific conditions for degradation and cellulose-based textiles that can biodegrade naturally. The accumulation of oil-based plastic waste in the ocean poses a significant ecological problem, as even when broken down into microplastics, they remain undigestible pollutants.