While reading the chapter, Polymers Are Forever, Weisman's studies produced some very interesting findings. Just take a look at the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" and its clear: plastics aren't going anywhere; they are not biodegradable so as we produce more and more plastic, we continuously pile it in to our landfills and in the ocean. Its kind of funny because a study that was discussed by Weisman showed that plastics don't take up but about 20% of our total garbage stored in landfills, but then you understand why, because most of the plastic ends up in our oceans. This, to me, seems scary, because as the plastic breaks down into smaller pieces it is consumed by fish and other marine animals that could either die from it as discussed, when it clogs their bodies up, or end up having a long term effect on them. Why does that matter? It is not certain what the long term effects of plastics in the body could be but let's say the chemicals had a negative impact on even the smallest of animals. Well, then a larger animal feeds on that "infected" animal and may also become sick, and so on. This potentially could screw the food chain that all animals follow. It does seem pretty crazy that it has been proven that plastics consumed by animals could be lethal and still so many of our products containing exfoliates are made with plastic designed to go down our drains and into the ocean.
Just a thought...
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