re: Gulf of Mexico is apparently full of plastic waste

quote:

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i know its gross and unsightly, but is plastic actually any type of hazard? does it leach chemicals into the water or just kind of sit there..forever.

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Well...considering it is ingested by many animals (fish, birds, turtles, etc.), whether confusing it for good or inadvertently consuming it, it's a big problem.

Edit: there are issues with microplastic beads from face washes getting into waterways and found in freshwater fishes (and probably elsewhere).