Published 5 months ago • loading... • Updated 5 months ago
Plastic pollution putting killer whales and sharks most at risk
Climate change increases plastic toxicity and mobility, threatening apex predators like killer whales and sharks, with single-use plastics accounting for 35% of production, the report says.
Plastic pollution combined with global warming is likely to have disproportionate impacts on apex predators like killer whales and sharks, according to new research.
Rising temperatures, humidity, and UV exposure speed up the breakdown of plastics into microplastics that spread vast distances and accumulate in ecosystems.
The researchers urge eliminating non-essential single-use plastics, limiting virgin plastic production, and creating international standards for reusable and recyclable plastics.