Plastic Rocks in Brazil

Plastic rocks? Fish with plastic in their stomachs? Or even a credit card’s worth of plastic in our bloodstream? How far has plastic really gone?

While this discovery was made four years ago, recent articles have highlighted clearer causes and problems related to it: Plastic isn’t just impacting our nearby ecosystems; it’s affecting every place worldwide that currents and winds can reach.

The discovery took place on Trindade Island, a nature reserve located more than a thousand kilometers off the coast of São Paulo, where four different types of "plastic" rocks have been identified so far.

Experts involved in the discovery, such as Fernanda Avelar, a geologist at the University of Paraná, are concerned about the human impact that is becoming evident on the island and beyond. “Pollution, marine debris, and improperly discarded plastics in the oceans are becoming geological materials, preserved in Earth’s geological records,” the researcher notes.

What are the implications of this for the planet? For humans?

In essence, such a massive alteration implies the unnatural integration of a material that offers no nutrients for any living organism, nor does it contribute to ecosystem development. These plastics are occupying spaces where they serve no purpose, unlike natural rocks, which through erosion by the sea, expose minerals essential to marine life. Plastic, essentially, is turning vital areas into barren zones, critical for the healthy development of our planet.

What do you think about this? Is there a way to correct these modifications we’re making to the planet?

We invite you to learn more about our program to remove plastic from the Tamiahua coast. Click this link to find out more.