Central American beaches overwhelm local and foreign plastic
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Scientists have found that, like other marine remains, their bottles and hats are sometimes colonized by immobilized organisms called epibions, living at the level of other organisms or substances. The team found items connected to Bryozoans, Barnacles and Mollusks, with the presence of this plastic age. Bottles and caps also displayed ordinary demolition patterns for marine exposure – disposal, abrasion and fragmentation.
However, despite these developments, plastic waste often maintained key identification features such as product codes, brand, production locations and history. This data helps to track their progress, even if the bottles are damaged or severely colonized by organisms and provide valuable information on their origins and routes.
For the waiter, one of the most worrying conclusions of his study is the status of islands such as Galapagos and Ropa Novi, natural areas protected. As he explains, the epibilities attached to the plastic bottles are washed off their coast, “and this is a serious threat, because we do not know what species of organisms are entering or where they come from. And they can be aggressive.”
This was not possible without cooperating with a maximum of 200 local leaders from 74 social organizations as well as 1,000 volunteers who were part of the citizen’s initiative. Their methodological approach not only allowed the research team to better understand the characteristics of plastic waste effective in the Latin American Pacific, but also understand regional drink preferences and consumption process in different countries.
Suggestions to resolve this crisis
Due to the widespread presence of disposable plastic bottles, mainly of local origin, one of the main recommendations for the researchers to replace them with standard reversible bottles throughout the region – “We used to do before.” “When I was a kid, the products were sold in reversible glass bottles. This is one of our main measures to reduce the production of plastic from the source.”
According to him, the move should be completed by repayment policies and social responsibility for companies involved in the beverage companies involved. The authors say it wants reusable packaging and accountability of large bottle drinks to reduce plastic pollution and protect coastal ecosystems. “In the end, companies have their own interests and are looking for the cheapest bottle production options,” says Gars. However, he says, improving waste management, especially in coastal societies, is another key issue that should be addressed.
Researchers also highlight the main role of human behavior in reducing plastic pollution. “Since we grow as a population, consumption increases,” says Gars. When drinking water is only available in disposable plastic bottles, consumers have no other options, “limiting their ability to sustainable performance.”
This story appeared first Wired en español And translated from Spanish.
