Chemicals from plastic bag pollution boosts the productivity of bacteria in lake water, which could unbalance ecosystems
Plastic pollution could upset the ecology of lakes and rivers by leaching chemicals that cause bacteria to thrive, unbalancing the aquatic ecosystem.at the University of Cambridge and her colleagues compared the impact of chemical compounds leached from cut-up shopping bags from various stores. The pieces of plastic were added to water samples taken from 29 Scandinavian lakes in 2019.
If replicated in the wild, the boost in bacteria could stimulate the aquatic food web by providing food for other organisms. But Sheridan says that doesn’t meanis good news for fish populations at the top of the web. “Yes, you’re going to benefit some species of bacteria, but you’re almost certainly going to throw off the whole balance of species in the ecosystem. And that’s not a good thing at all,” she says.
The study comes with a few caveats. Although lakes of a wide range of sizes were tested, all were from Scandinavia. The team also didn’t test different concentrations of the leachate and only tried with low-density polyethylene rather than other plastic leachate too. However, LDPE from bags is the biggest pollutant of water bodies. People should be aware of the unintended consequences of plastic waste and stop it from getting into the wider environment, says Sheridan. “We’re much more focused on the kind of macro level, and it’s important for people to also be aware that there can be this much smaller scale chemical effect on species in an ecosystem,” she says.
Österreich Neuesten Nachrichten, Österreich Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
Skagway’s busiest cruise ship dock at risk of catastrophic rockslide, study saysSkagway is changing up the flow of foot traffic on its busiest cruise ship dock in response to a new geotechnical report that warns of possible catastrophic rockslides onto the dock.
Weiterlesen »
‘Urban Decay’ Created by Segregation Fueling Poverty, Population Loss on South, West Sides: StudyMany of the barriers erected by elected officials and civic leaders beginning in the 1930s to keep Black Chicagoans, Latino Chicagoans and White Chicagoans from living, working and playing in the same neighborhoods remain unchanged nearly a century later, according to a new study.
Weiterlesen »
Our Chicago: Street outreach workers face danger, violence, study saysThey aim to intervene and stop violence in Chicago, but street outreach workers often face gun violence themselves. A recent study by Northwestern University and SUNY Albany polled 181 people from 15 organizations in the city.
Weiterlesen »
Study Shows That Despite High Prices, New And Used Cars Are Selling Fast | CarscoopsStudy Shows That Despite High Prices, New And Used Cars Are Selling Fast | Carscoops carscoops
Weiterlesen »
Ten financial actors own half of the world’s oil, gas, coal emissions – studyTen financial actors with the most influence on the fossil fuel economy own 49.5% of potential emissions from the world’s largest energy firms, a recent study has found.
Weiterlesen »