How did that get there? Plastic chunks on Arctic ice show how far pollution has spread – The Guardian
Photograph: Conor McDonnell
Article Synopsis – An expedition has discovered sizeable chunks of plastic (polystyrene) lying on remote frozen ice floes in the middle of the Arctic Ocean. The discovery confirmed just how far plastic pollution has spread. It has prompted fears that plastic waste is flowing into the Arctic as the ice melts because of climate change. The thaw is simultaneously releasing plastic that has long been trapped in the ice. Estimates suggest that there are more than 5 trillion pieces of plastic floating on the surface of the world’s oceans – possibly enough to form a permanent layer in the fossil record. To read the actual article click here.