Candy wrappers. Balloons. Grocery bags. Every day, the equivalent of 2,000 full garbage trucks worth of plastic gets dumped in the world’s oceans.
Scientists have long known that plastic waste is harmful to marine life. A new study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows much plastic a marine animal has to eat for it to be lethal.
“What surprised me the most is how little it takes to become deadly,” said Britta Baechler, a co-author of the study and director of Ocean Plastics Research at the Ocean Conservancy.
Less than three sugar cubes’ worth of plastic could kill an Atlantic puffin. Two baseballs’ worth would do in a sea turtle. The equivalent of a soccer ball is enough to off a seal or dolphin.
The problem is the hands.
I wouldn’t do well eating a handful of plastic wrappers eithor.
Everyone knows you’re not supposed to eat the wrapper.
Were these fish raised by wolves?After 2 or 3 handfuls I start to get a tummy ache.
How many marine animals even have hands?
Less than three sugar cubes’ worth of plastic
Good, I was wondering why they were using “handful” for marine animals…
But still makes no sense considering the size difference of marine animals.
