NOT Eco-friendly. Death by Plastic

It’s definitely not Eco-friendly.    It’s Death by Plastic

On May 5^th, a rare Gervais beaked whale was found on a beach in Puerto Rico with ten pounds (4.5kg) of twisted plastic in its stomach. The plastic caused the whale to starve to death. It was a juvenile female, and was emaciated due to not eating for many days.

In February another beaked whale died after ingesting a single plastic bag because the chemicals reacted badly with the whale’s internal organs.

Are these isolated incidents?

No. A grey whale near Seattle was washed ashore after it died.  The contents of its stomach included 20 plastic bags, small towels, surgical gloves, sweat pants, plastic pieces, duct tape, and a golf ball.

Is it only whales we are putting at risk?

No.  Canadian research found persistent contaminants are a health hazard for polar bears in East Greenland.  This general effect has actually been known and studied for nearly two decades.

Danish wildlife researcher Christian Sonne (Aarhus University) said industrial pollutants (e.g. pesticides and flame retardants) are causing some wild polar bears to experience degradation of their bones.   Chronic osteoporosis leads to bone fractures and deformities.  This is caused by the polar bears eating food – seals and seal blubber – containing the industrial contaminants.

It has been theorized that the industrial toxins get to polar bear territory near Greenland because that is where air and water currents join – the contaminants arrive there through the air and carried by water currents from North America and Europe.

Tragically, the destination for the toxins is where many wild polar bears live.

Since 1993 there has been concern that pollutants were causing problems for polar bear birth rates.

You’ve probably read or seen media coverage of the threat to polar bears from the currently-higher levels of melting sea ice.  Polar bears need sea ice to hunt from and live on.

Now we know that habitat destruction isn’t their only threat; they are also being poisoned by man-made chemicals.

Perhaps you’re not too worried by this?

Whales and polar bears are a long way away, after all.  Let’s bring it closer to home.

Very recently, research found that a sample of dogs and cats in the United States had very high levels of flame retardants.

Still not close enough?

The Illinois EPA produced a report in 2008 which advised that “humans are exposed to [chemicals used in flame retardants] mainly from the diet, workplace, and home”.

Why flame retardants?  They’re made with plastic, and they’re added to foods such as processed meat, peanut butter and fish.  And they’re added to furniture to reduce fire risk, but particles get into house dust.

More?  Watch this short video.  And then find out who puts all the plastic in the sea.  Or watch a fun video by actor Jeremy Irons

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