荒无人烟的南极洲​,也没能逃过塑料污染的魔爪

Greenpeace: Plastic, Chemical Pollution Widespread in Antarctica

The non-governmental environmental group Greenpeace reports that plastic and chemical pollution is often found in snow and seawater collected by researchers in Antarctica.

Greenpeace said its scientists gathered water and snow samples from Antarctica during a visit between January to March of this year. Laboratory tests confirmed the effect of humanity¹ on the continent.

“It was about one microplastic piece at least per liter. When you think of extrapolating that out to the scale or the Antarctic Ocean, it’s really, really significant,” said Greenpeace’s Louisa Casson.

She noted² that, in the past, scientists thought the currents around the Antarctic Ocean might protect it from plastic pollution found in much of the world’s oceans. But now, she said, evidence is increasingly showing that there might be little, if any, protection.

Microplastics are extremely small particles of plastic. They come from the breakdown³ of bottles and other plastic waste in the world’s oceans.

In addition to microplastics, the Greenpeace study also confirmed the presence of chemicals known as per- and polyfluorinated alkylated substances. These chemicals are widely used in industrial processes, and have been linked to reproductive and developmental problems for wildlife.

“This just strengthens the rationale for why we need to be taking action on land to stop that flow of plastic into the ocean, but also creating huge ocean sanctuaries⁴ at sea to allow wildlife to recover from these pressures,” Casson said.

The United Nations estimates that 8 million tons of plastic are dropped into the oceans every year. Plastic has been shown to harm wildlife.

An example of this happened several days ago in southern Thailand. That was when a pilot whale died after swallowing 80 pieces of plastic waste. Tests showed the waste weighed about eight kilograms.

International concern about plastic pollution is rising. In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently promised to ban all single-use plastic by 2022. In the city of Mumbai, Bollywood movie stars have been taking part in waste clean-up activities at Versova beach.

Actress Abigail Pande told reporters she was surprised at the amount of waste she found.

“I am having fun (cleaning this place). But it is also very sad because once I came here, I got to know that the amount of waste is so high that if you dig the ground four feet, you will still find plastic inside. And it will take years to properly clean the beach,” Pande said.

Plastic has now been found in every corner of the world’s oceans, from the bottom of the Pacific Mariana Trench⁵ to Antarctica.

In October, world governments will decide on a European Union proposal to create an Antarctic Ocean sanctuary⁶. At 1.8 million square kilometers, the sanctuary would be the largest protected area on Earth.

I’m Phil Dierking.

Words in This Story

extrapolate - v. to form an opinion or to make an estimate about something from known facts?

rationale - n. the reason or explanation for something?

sample - n. a small amount of something that gives you information about the thing it was taken from?

sanctuary - n. a place where someone or something is protected or given shelter?

significant - adj. large enough to be noticed or have an effect?

proper - adj. correct according to social or moral rules

1 humanity   

n.人类，[总称]人(性)，人道[pl.]人文学科

参考例句：

• Such an act is a disgrace to humanity.这种行为是人类的耻辱。
• We should treat animals with humanity.我们应该以仁慈之心对待动物。

2 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

3 breakdown   

n.垮，衰竭；损坏，故障，倒塌

参考例句：

• She suffered a nervous breakdown.她患神经衰弱。
• The plane had a breakdown in the air,but it was fortunately removed by the ace pilot.飞机在空中发生了故障，但幸运的是被王牌驾驶员排除了。

4 sanctuaries   

n.避难所( sanctuary的名词复数 )；庇护；圣所；庇护所

参考例句：

• The designation of special marine reserves and marine sanctuaries shall be subject to the State Council for approval. 海洋特别保护区、海上自然保护区的确定，须经国务院批准。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• After 1965 he acquiesced when they established sanctuaries on that soil. 1965年以后，他默认了他们在那块土地上建立庇护所。 来自辞典例句

5 trench   

n./v.(挖)沟，(挖)战壕

参考例句：

• The soldiers recaptured their trench.兵士夺回了战壕。
• The troops received orders to trench the outpost.部队接到命令在前哨周围筑壕加强防卫。

6 sanctuary   

n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区

参考例句：

• There was a sanctuary of political refugees behind the hospital.医院后面有一个政治难民的避难所。
• Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。