A scientist in Korea has discovered that millions of tiny
flakes of paint exist in just the upper most millimeter of the ocean. These
specs of paint have come from things such as boats, docks, and piers. These
specs of paint don’t seem like they could do much harm, but they do. They pose
as a threat to zooplankton, which is a very important part of the oceanic
ecosystem. Possible solutions include forcing all painted objects that a made
for oceanic use to have a sealer coat over the paint that doesn’t allow it to
erode away. A barrier to this solution is that it is another expense for
consumers that they may not be willing to pay. I believe that humans need to
respect the environment, even if it is on very small levels.
Interesting read, I have never even thought of the possibility of paint polluting the ecosystem. I have heard of similar situations where the ocean was being polluted by industrial runoff and even refuse from the tsunami which hit Japan. It’s alarming to think of the small and relatively innocent actions (such as painting a dock) that can affect the ocean in such a large manner.
ReplyDelete