Plastic rocks turn up on a remote Brazilian island, ‘terrifying’ researchers – National | 24CA News
The geology of Brazil’s volcanic Trindade Island has fascinated scientists for years, however the discovery of rocks produced from plastic particles on this distant turtle refuge is sparking alarm.
Melted plastic has change into intertwined with rocks on the island, positioned 1,140 kilometres from the southeastern state of Espirito Santo, which researchers say is proof of people’ rising affect over the earth’s geological cycles.
General view of Trindade Island in Espirito Santo state, Brazil.
Daniel Venturini
“This is new and terrifying at the same time, because pollution has reached geology,” stated Fernanda Avelar Santos, a geologist on the Federal University of Parana.
Santos and her crew ran chemical assessments to search out out what sort of plastics are within the rocks referred to as “plastiglomerates” as a result of they’re made from a mix of sedimentary granules and different particles held collectively by plastic.
Researcher Fernanda Avelar Santos appears to be like by means of a microscope at “plastic rocks” discovered on Trindade Island within the state of Espirito Santo, on the laboratory of the Federal University of Parana.
Reuteres
“We identified (the pollution) mainly comes from fishing nets, which is very common debris on Trinidade Island’s beaches,” Santos stated. “The (nets) are dragged by the marine currents and accumulate on the beach. When the temperature rises, this plastic melts and becomes embedded with the beach’s natural material.”
Trindade Island is without doubt one of the world’s most necessary conservation spots for inexperienced turtles, or Chelonia mydas, with hundreds arriving annually to put their eggs. The solely human inhabitants on Trindade are members of the Brazilian navy, which maintains a base on the island and protects the nesting turtles.
“The place where we found these samples (of plastic) is a permanently preserved area in Brazil, near the place green turtles lay their eggs,” Santos stated.
Plastic discovered on rocks inspected on the Federal University of Parana in Brazil.
Reuters
Melted plastic has change into intertwined with rocks on the island.
Reuters
The discovery stirs questions on people’ legacy on the earth, says Santos.
“We talk so much about the Anthropocene, and this is it,” Santos stated, referring to a proposed geological epoch outlined by people’ affect on the planet’s geology and ecosystems.
“The pollution, the garbage in the sea and the plastic dumped incorrectly in the oceans is becoming geological material … preserved in the earth’s geological records.”
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