New Research Shows that Plastics are the Solution to our Problems
Plastics! The Environment! Pollution! It seems that some of the most common topics of conversation today is the environment and the various degrading aspects of our Earth. In recent news, articles affirm that the rising atmospheric temperatures are causing the ocean temperatures to rise 40% faster than what was estimated five years ago. New research may suggest, however, that the biggest solution to ocean temperature rise is right before our eyes.
Head Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released reports on the importance of bioaccumulation of microplastics in fish, and their positive effect on the rising temperatures of the earth. They reflect on the increasing quantity of fish that are dying because of large amounts of the microscopic plastics particles they consume, which has become a broader topic of discussion within the past few years. Such talk has resulted in the ban of microbeads and single-use plastics in various areas, though these decisions have been challenged by big corporations due to the low production cost of plastics. Despite these debates regarding how to address our overconsumption of plastics and their impact on the environment, new findings regarding the importance of plastic consumption may completely change the future of environmental efforts towards rising ocean temperatures.
“As the fish die, they float to the surface where they stay for a while before beginning to decompose or being eaten by scavengers,” reports the Administrator of the EPA. “When large amounts of fish die in a particularly polluted area, the scales on their floating bodies reflect the incoming UV rays that typically are absorbed and warm the water. Thus, the mass of dead fish creates a reflective shield that allows the water in that area to no longer be warmed by the incoming UV rays they typically absorb, and instead be reflected back into the atmosphere and into space.”
Within the past month, various other studies have been released supporting the EPA’s findings, emphasizing the importance of plastic consumption and waste that builds up within marine ecosystems. At the World Ocean Summit this past March, the Environment America Research & Policy Center and Frontier Group verified this research with a statement that plastics are truly going to save the oceans.
“If people continue to consume more and more plastic, the reflective mass of dead fish scales floating on the ocean will eventually increase and make up large surface areas on the ocean’s surface, thus working to help us to decrease the temperature of the air and our oceans.” Researchers added that single-use plastics are the best option for people looking to make an environmental impact, and that more cheap plastic products will be released on the market before next year.