What is plasticrust, the latest concerning form of pollution?

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What is Plasti-Crust? The latest concerning form of pollution.
Thanks for asking.
A March 2023 study by American scientific magazine PLOS One revealed how plastic pollution of the oceans has reached unprecedented levels. An estimated 2.3 million tons of plastic are now floating in the seas or have been deposited on coastlines. The figures are alarming. We know the consequences of microplastics on animal and human health. We've also seen garbage patches created in the middle of the oceans. But on the coastline, another form of pollution has appeared. Small pieces of plastic have become embedded in rocks to create what's been labelled plastic crust. What is this plastic crust made of? It's actually a new geological formation, which includes an intruder among its mineral components, and that's polyethylene. Polyethylene is one of the most widely used types of plastic in the world. It can be found in packaging and construction materials, for example. Researchers on a recent expedition to the Brazilian island of Trindade identified fragments of plastic in the rocks. They were all the more surprised given the island is a protected area that green turtles use for nesting. The researchers took samples and when they analyzed them, they found that the polyethylene had come from both fishing nets and household wastes such as plastic bottles.
What impact could plasti-crust pollution have? It might not be of direct danger to humans, but it poses a great threat to the marine ecosystem. Marine biologist Ignacio Guestoso Garcia told CNN, Future studies should focus on evaluating whether marine invertebrates cohabiting in the same habitat where plasti-crusts are present can assimilate plastics. And if that's the case, whether these plastics can have implications for the health of these animals. Guestoso Garcia and his team of researchers actually first discovered plasti-crust back in 2016 in Madeira, Portugal. They now estimate that about 10% of the island's rock is infested with this new plastic pollution. What's happening with the UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution? Since November 2022, 175 countries have been working on an international treaty aimed at slowing down or ending plastic pollution, both in the oceans and on land, by the year 2040 For now, the next round of discussions is scheduled for May in Paris. But in reality, when faced with consequences like plasti-crust, it's difficult to go back and undo the damage. Geologists are saying it's yet another sad example of how human activity has influenced planet Earth's natural environment.
There you have it.
Now you know what plasti-crust is. In under three minutes, we answer your questions and help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts, and acronyms that are making headlines. Listen along and you will really know for sure.