Plastiglomerate: An Alarming Consequence of Ocean Plastic Waste

Melted plastic has become intertwined with volcanic rock on Trindade Island, which lies 1,140 km from mainland Brazil. The Federal University of Parana researchers have named these rocks plastiglomerates. They are made of rock granules and other debris fused together by melted plastic. Tests show that the plastic comes mostly from discarded fishing nets. Trinidade Island is one of the world’s most important nesting sites for green turtles. The only human presence is a small Brazilian naval base. Ocean plastic pollution is a growing and far-reaching problem, as a garbage truck’s worth of plastic enters the ocean every minute. Watch to learn more about ocean plastic pollution and the discovery of plastiglomerate on a remote Brazilian island.