Scientists from Southern Federal University found that the beaches with the highest plastic pollution are the coasts of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The results of the research were published at: magazine Journal of Marine Sciences and Engineering.
The authors analyzed available data on five heavy metals (cadmium, nickel, mercury, chromium, zinc) found in the literature and their relationship to plastic particles on beaches in the seas and oceans. Each of these metals can pollute the environment and pose a risk to human health when certain concentrations are reached.
The study found nearly 20 places around the world where high concentrations of heavy metals are associated with the buildup of plastic particles on beaches. Most of these places are located on the coasts of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
Previously, scientists from the Carbon Geochemistry Laboratory, EM. Galimov Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry. IN AND. Vernadsky (GEOKHI) RAS found that plastic materials that decompose under the influence of seawater can accumulate heavy metals. Ingestion of such pieces of plastic causes various diseases and mutations in fish and other marine animals. They can then enter the human body along the food chain and harm it. About this socialbites.ca said At the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia.