Oceanic Plastic Pollution Worsens

I blogged a while ago about the great gyres of plastic garbage that are slowly wheeling in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. New research is showing the plastic is breaking down much faster than expected. And creating new toxins.

Researchers termed the discovery "surprising." Scientists always believed that plastics in the oceans were unsightly, but a hazard mainly to marine animals that eat or become ensnared in plastic objects.

"Plastics in daily use are generally assumed to be quite stable," said study lead researcher Katsuhiko Saido, Ph.D. "We found that plastic in the ocean actually decomposes as it is exposed to the rain and sun and other environmental conditions, giving rise to yet another source of global contamination that will continue into the future."