"Ocean Plastic Could Haunt Us for Centuries, Scientists Reveal"

Scientists warn that the 170 trillion pieces of plastic in our oceans may persist for over a century, posing severe health risks from microplastics to both humans and marine life.

• New research from the Queen Mary University of London reveals that current estimates suggest plastic pollution will remain in the ocean for over a century, even if all plastic waste stops today.
• Microplastics have been detected in human arteries, brains, and sexual organs, raising serious health concerns as they are linked to conditions like cancer and diabetes.
• The buoyancy of plastic allows it to float on the oceans surface, while some particles contribute to marine snow, which could eventually settle on the seabed, affecting deep sea ecosystems.