The Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch is being studied by scientists; they want to know how much garbage is in the North Pacific Gyre, and if the plastic in the garbage posses a health risk to wildlife in the ocean.
Evidence collected so far suggest that the garbage is not good for wildlife. Both birds and fish are eating small pieces of plastic, their gut contents have been found to contain surprising quantities of plastic. I do wonder if these animals have the full feeling? You don't eat when your stomach feels full, but when you have a gut full of objects you can't digest then you would most likely starve to death.
Some scientist are saying that plastic degrades at a much faster rate than thought. That's not a bad thin you might think; trouble is the decaying plastic changes into some nasty chemicals. Research already done in rats found that chemicals from degrading plastic disturbed the rats hormone systems. Does this translate to human hormone systems? I guess only time will tell this story, hopefully more research will not reveal bad news.
Water samples taken in the North Pacific Gyre, were all found to have derivatives of polystyrene. I don't like the sound of this, has anyone tested the fish in our markets for these chemicals?
Then to ice the cake, scientists are planning an expedition to the Southern Hemisphere Gyre where they fear an even larger garbage pile exists. Can we just let all this garbage decay? Or do we need a "Clean up the Ocean Month"?
All this talk about oceans full of garbage has me thinking that it might be better to avoid eating fish for a while. Yeah, I know, I'm probably panicking, but if I can avoid being the canary then, yes, I'm going to avoid being the canary. Too many canaries lost there lives testing the air in mine shafts. I have no plans to be a canary. The thought that our seafood might be contaminated by all this garbage needs to be answered with some testing. So for now I choose not to be the canary.
