June 12 news Greenpeace, the international environmental protection organization, recently released the "Antarctic Microplastics and Persistent Fluoride Survey Report," found that Antarctica is being contaminated by microplastics and toxic and hazardous chemicals PFASs (perfluorinated and polyfluorinated).
In order to understand the biodiversity and pollution of the Antarctic waters, Greenpeace sent an expedition team to South Pole for a scientific investigation at the beginning of 2018, and collected water samples, snow samples and sea trawl samples for testing.
● 7 out of 8 seawater samples detected microplastic fibers
● 2 out of 9 sea trawl samples detected microplastic debris
● 7 out of 9 snow samples detected toxic and hazardous chemicals PFASs
At the beginning of this year, Chinese scientists discovered for the first time microplastics in the Antarctic waters. The snow samples collected by the Greenpeace scientific expedition included fresh snowfall, indicating that the chemicals detected in the snow did not come from local sources. These chemicals are widely used In industrial production and consumer products, it is difficult to degrade in the natural environment for a long time, and it also affects the reproduction and development of wild animals.
'We think that the Antarctic is a wild and primitive place, but from environmental pollution, climate change, krill fishing, etc., we can see that the impact of human activities is already obvious. These test results show that even the most Antarctic Remote habitats have also been contaminated with microplastics and toxic and hazardous chemicals. We need to take immediate action to stop these pollutions at the source. 'Frida Bengtsson, member of the Greenpeace Antarctic Action Group, said.
In fact, plastic pollution is far more serious than we thought. At present, plastic footprints have spread throughout the Antarctic, the Arctic and the world's deepest trench Mariana Trench. In addition to piles of plastic garbage, plastic pollution through water, air and soil, Quietly invaded all aspects of our lives.
'We also saw all sorts of rubbish from the fishing industry in the Antarctic. Buoys, buoys and tarpaulins floating between the ice cubes were frustrating. 'Frida Bengtsso said, 'We need to take urgent action to stop plastic waste. And chemicals enter our environment. At the same time, we need a large enough Antarctic marine reserve to protect our oceans and marine life.