A team of geologists has made a “terrifying” discovery on the remote Brazilian island of Trindade – plastic rocks that are extremely worrying because they indicate that plastic pollution is no longer just in the atmosphere and oceans, but has also reached geology.
Plastic is perhaps the most dangerous material created by humans, not necessarily because of its toxicity, but because it infiltrates every corner of the planet, contaminating the Earth’s natural processes. It had previously been suggested that plastic had entered a cycle, much like the water or carbon cycle, but the more complex consequences were unknown.
Now, researchers from the Federal University of Paraná have made a discovery; plastic rocks made of natural sediment and a conglomerate of plastic waste. “This is new and terrifying at the same time, because pollution has reached geology,” says Fernanda Avelar Santos, a geologist who participated in the discovery.
Plastic Rocks that Endanger the Ecosystem
Located about 1,140 kilometers from the state of Espírito Santo, in southeastern Brazil, the volcanic island of Trindade is a very important territory for the conservation of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) worldwide. Every year, thousands of turtles come to the remote island to lay their eggs and keep their species alive. The site is so relevant to the conservation of marine life that the only people on the island are members of the Brazilian navy who protect turtle nesting.
“We identified that (pollution) mainly comes from fishing nets, which are very common waste on the beaches of Trindade Island,” Santos said. “The nets are dragged by ocean currents and accumulate on the beach. When the temperature rises, this plastic melts and embeds itself with the natural beach material.”
The finding is extremely worrying and opens the door to think about the legacy we are leaving to the planet. Anthropogenic pollution has the power to change the structure of the planet and, with it, endanger life on it.
Story originally written in Spanish by Alejandra Martínez in Ecoosfera.